ap lit aristotles concept of tragedy terms

hi

High Estate of Noble Birth

The hero must have this title, and have recognizably admirable characteristics.

The Fall

The Tragic Figure must Fall from power and happiness. The tragic figure’s high estate gives him a position of power and dignity from which to fall.

Profound Suffering

The Fall must come with Profound Suffering; the core of Greek tragedy recognizes that humankind suffers terribly, but the suffering isn’t without meaning.

Hamartia

The Tragic Hero’s downfall is the result of his/her human fallibility, a tragic flaw or weakness of character, to error and transgress (sudden death). For example, Icarus’s death from falling after his wings melted wasn’t deserved, but he died as a result.

Anagnorisis

the tragic hero realizes a revelation that was unknown to him previously; a turning point where nothing can be the same again, with an awareness in the role of the character’s own undoing. For example, when Truman from the Truman Show realized that he was living in a TV set. 

Peripeteia

a reversal of fortune and happiness, but, according to Aristotle, it means an action that turns out to have the opposite effect from the one its doer had intended (going to success, but then it doesn’t work, goes the other way around).

Acceptance of Fate

the tragic hero is humbled and uplifted as they suffer in moral dignity. The suffering the hero endures seems to be greater than what they deserve, arousing our pity and fear. (“It was me, I’m sorry.”) (sometimes involves a character’s death/removal for wrongdoing).

Katharsis

meaning “purgation”, to purge, after witnessing the horror of the tragedy, we feel relief after releasing our pent up emotions upon the stage. We feel better, not worse, not depressed, but somehow elated. There is a kind of pleasure in witnessing the undeniable rightness of the truth of the tragic vision play out. We leave cleansed to be better people and citizens. (relief/happiness after a tragic moment)