A tragedy, then, is the imitation of an action... with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions.

Summary

This quote is from Aristotle's famous work, "Poetics," where he defines what a tragedy is. According to Aristotle, a tragedy is the artistic representation or imitation of an action. It incorporates events and incidents that evoke feelings of pity and fear in the audience. The purpose of a tragedy is to purge or cleanse these emotions through a process called catharsis. In other words, tragedies allow people to experience and release their own feelings of pity and fear, bringing about a sense of emotional relief or purification.

Topics