1. Greek Theatre

2. Definition of Tragedy - “the imitation of action that is serious and complete, achieving a katharsis (purging or purification through incidents arousing pity or terror).” - “the imitation of action that is serious and complete, achieving a katharsis (purging or purification through incidents arousing pity or terror).” - the protagonist is lead into a fatal calamity by a hamartia (error) which often taken the form of hubris (excessive pride) - the protagonist is lead into a fatal calamity by a hamartia (error) which often taken the form of hubris (excessive pride) - (Oxford Dict. of Literary Terms) - (Oxford Dict. of Literary Terms)

3. - improvisations or imitation of a certain kind of action - improvisations or imitation of a certain kind of action - therefore plot is the most important component - therefore plot is the most important component - plot is defined as the ordered sequence of events which make up the action being imitated (action needs to move forward for plot to move forward) - plot is defined as the ordered sequence of events which make up the action being imitated (action needs to move forward for plot to move forward)

4. Characterisation in Tragedy - an action is performed by agents (actors) - an action is performed by agents (actors) - agents have moral and intellectual characteristics, expressed in what they do and say - agents have moral and intellectual characteristics, expressed in what they do and say - thus character and reasoning are also constituent parts of tragedy - thus character and reasoning are also constituent parts of tragedy - to summarise; plot, character and reasoning are related to tragic imitation - to summarise; plot, character and reasoning are related to tragic imitation

5. Tragedy as drama - We have already seen that tragedy is poetic imitation in the dramatic mode - We have already seen that tragedy is poetic imitation in the dramatic mode - therefore it is written to be acted out on- stage, where the action can be seen, unlike the action of an epic - therefore it is written to be acted out on- stage, where the action can be seen, unlike the action of an epic - therefore, tragedy is a spectacle (i.e. can be seen) - therefore, tragedy is a spectacle (i.e. can be seen)

6. Style and metre - number of actors changed from one to two by Aeschylus (Medea), who also reduced choral parts and made the spoken word the leading role - number of actors changed from one to two by Aeschylus (Medea), who also reduced choral parts and made the spoken word the leading role - Sophocles (Oedipus) introduced the third actor and scene painting - Sophocles (Oedipus) introduced the third actor and scene painting - plots became longer - plots became longer