GED117-Week 3 (2 of 2)

Summary

Professor Wilner Bantai introduces Aristotle's 'Poetics', highlighting key elements of a tragedy such as peripatea (reversal) and anagnorisis (recognition), exemplified by Oedipus's story. He contextualizes 'Poetics' as a historical study of Greek drama, noting its influence on drama development from the Roman Empire to the 19th century. The lecture promises an in-depth look at 'Oedipus Rex' in the next session, emphasizing Aristotle's analytical approach to understanding tragedy.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Professor Wilner Bantai introduces himself as a member of the Department of Arts and Letters.
• 📚 The script discusses Aristotle's 'Poetics' and its focus on the elements of plot in tragedy, specifically hamartia.
• 🔄 'Peripatea' or reversal is highlighted as a key plot device where events turn out opposite to the protagonist's plans or hopes, exemplified by Oedipus's tragic discovery.
• 👀 'Anagnorisis' or recognition is identified as the moment of truth realization for the protagonist, eliciting strong emotional responses from the audience.
• 🎭 Aristotle wrote 'Poetics' nearly a century after the peak of Greek tragedy, reflecting on a bygone era of Athenian society and culture.
• 🔍 The work is seen as a historical study rather than a description of a living art form, using analytical methods from politics, ethics, and natural sciences.
• 🤔 The approach in 'Poetics' is critiqued for being sometimes artificial or formulaic in its conclusions about literary study.
• 📘 'Poetics' is the only critical study of Greek drama by a near contemporary and provides valuable insights into the religious, methodological, and purposeful aspects of tragedy.
• 🌐 Aristotle's principles have had a profound influence on the development of drama, impacting Roman and Western European tragedy composition in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
• 📚 The next session will provide an overview of 'Oedipus Rex', continuing the exploration of tragic drama.

Q & A

Who is Professor Wilner Bantai?

Professor Wilner Bantai is the speaker in the video script, a faculty member of the Department of Arts and Letters.

What are the two features of the plot mentioned by Aristotle in 'Poetics' that are crucial to a well-made tragedy?

The two features are reversal (peripatea) and recognition (anagnorisis), which are related to the concept of hamartia.

What is the definition of 'reversal' or 'peripatea' in the context of a tragedy?

Reversal, or peripatea, refers to an unexpected change in the situation where the opposite of what was planned or hoped for by the protagonist takes place.

Can you give an example of 'reversal' from the script?

An example of reversal is when Oedipus's investigation into the murder of Laius leads to a catastrophic and unexpected conclusion.

What is 'recognition' or 'anagnorisis' in the context of a tragedy?

Recognition, or anagnorisis, is the point in a tragedy when the protagonist recognizes the truth of a situation, discovers another character's identity, or comes to a realization about themselves.

How does 'recognition' affect the audience in a tragedy?

Recognition arouses the desired intense emotional reaction in the spectators, as it often involves a sudden acquisition of knowledge or insight by the hero.

What historical context does Aristotle's 'Poetics' provide for the study of tragedy?

Aristotle wrote 'Poetics' nearly a century after the greatest Greek tragedians had died, during a period of radical transformations in Athenian society and culture.

How did Aristotle approach the study of tragedy in 'Poetics'?

Aristotle used the same analytical methods he had applied in studies of politics, ethics, and the natural sciences to determine the fundamental principles of tragedy's composition and content.

What is the significance of 'Poetics' in the history of drama?

'It Poetics' is the only critical study of Greek drama made by a near contemporary and has had an overwhelming influence on the development of drama, influencing the drama of the Roman Empire and the composition of tragedy in Western Europe during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

What does the script suggest about the nature of tragedy during Aristotle's time compared to the fifth century?

The script suggests that the tragic drama of Aristotle's day was not the same as that of the fifth century, indicating a historical study of a form that existed rather than a description of a living art form.

What is the next topic that Professor Bantai plans to discuss in the video series?

Professor Bantai plans to begin with an overview of 'Oedipus Rex' in the next video.