How does Aristotle compare and contrast tragedy with epic poetry in “Poetics?”
Poetics is a notable literary work by Aristotle. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Poetics.
Answer
How does Aristotle compare and contrast tragedy with epic poetry in “Poetics?”
Or, What are Aristotle’s arguments in favor of tragedy over epic poetry?
According to Aristotle (384-322 BC), Tragedy and epic are two distinct forms of poetry. In “Poetics,” Aristotle logically compares and contrasts epic and tragedy. According to him, tragedy is superior to epic because it has all the elements of epic. It is more effective, more influential, and more inclusive than epic.
Tragedy and Epic: Before going further, let us have a look at the definitions of tragedy and epic. The definition of Tragedy in accordance with Aristotle:
Tragedy, then, is a representation of an action that is worth serious attention, complete in itself, and of some amplitude; in language enriched by a variety of artistic devices appropriate to the several parts of the play; presented in the form of action, not narration; by means of pity and fear, bringing about the purgation [catharsis] of such emotions.
On the other hand, in Poetics, Aristotle also depicts the epic poetry that it is:
the art of representation in the form of narrative verse; clearly its plots should be dramatically constructed, like those of tragedies.
Differences between Tragedy and Epic:
Unity of Place: The epic has an advantage. It can narrate a number of incidents happening simultaneously to a number of persons at a number of places. However, tragedy cannot show more than one incident happening in one place at one time and in one set of persons because tragedy is bound by the concept of unity in the place. According to Aristotle:
Tragedy, then, is a representation of an action that is worthy of serious attention, complete in itself and of some amplitude.
Length: Epic poetry differs from tragic drama in its length of composition. Epic can be greater in length than tragedy because epic poetry has a great capacity for enlarging its dimension. The time limits of the epic are not fixed, but tragedy attempts to confine itself to a single revolution of the sun as far as possible. Aristotle says,
They differ, again, in their length: for Tragedy endeavors, as far as possible, to confine itself to a single revolution of the sun
Subject Matter: Epic narrates an action concerning the fortunes or destiny of a people or nation, thereby permitting the life of an entire period. On the contrary, in tragedy, the emphasis of the subject is on an individual. Here, the subject matter does not shift from the individual to the society.
Metre: Tragedy can have a variety of meters, but the epic is confined only to one meter, the heroic meter. According to Aristotle, the heroic meter or the hexameter is most dignified and stately. It can use rare and strange words. The tragic mode permits the use of metaphors in the iambic and trochaic tetrameter.
Plot: The epic is a narrative, while action constitutes a tragedy. The plot of an epic is a story of suffering, and it may be simple or complex. But, like tragedy, it must have unity. The epic naturally has a slow movement.
Music and Spectacle: Another obvious difference between the epic and the tragedy is that tragedy contains music and spectacle, which are absent in the epic.
To sum up, we can undoubtedly say that tragedy is superior to epic. Tragic has all the elements of epic, is vividly presented, is more concise and concentrated, and is more united.