The concept of Tragedy and Epic according to Aristotle. The affinity and differences between tragedy and epic.

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CONCEPT OF EPIC AND TRAGEDY.
Introduction:
In the Poetics, Aristotle has given a brief outline of how poetry could have evolved. We see from the beginning
that Aristotle holds that the tragic evolved from the heroic strain, which in turn originated from the hymns of
praise sung to the gods and the great men. Aristotle establishes and affinity between the epic and the tragedy.
Aristotle’s treatment of the epic is slight as compared to his treatment of tragedy. But he makes a few general
statements, which bring out the salient features of the epic, and establishes the affinity as well as the difference
between epic and tragedy.
Definition Of Epic:
Epic is a long narrative poem recounting in elevated style the deeds of a legendary hero, esp one
originating in oral folk tradition. Epic = Heroic Drama + Long Narrative.
Definition Of Tragedy:
Tragedy, according to Aristotle, is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having
magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language; ... in a dramatic rather
than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of
these emotions.
The Affinity Between Tragedy And Epic:
 Aristotle says that the epic poet should not speak directly. It is better that he should speak through his
characters.
 In Poetics Aristotle makes it clear that the structure of the epic should be modeled on dramatic
principles. This is the dramatic slant given to the epic by Aristotle.
 Epic and tragedy both are imitations of higher subjects, that is, they deal with characters of higher type.
It means that the major character in epic and tragedy deals with high class in society.
 Plot, characters, thought and diction are considered as common elements in epic and tragedy.
 Epic and tragedy both show unity in their plot. In this matter an epic is allowed more freedom than
tragedy.
 Epic poetry is similar to tragedy in that it has as many species as in tragedy.
 Epic plots are complex or simple whether they are full of suffering, or concentrate on characters they are
similar to tragedy.
 Basis of dividing the epic into different parts, i.e., proper beginning, middle and end; it is a complete
organic whole, just as it should be in tragedy.

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Differences Between Epic And Tragedy:
 The first difference that matter is that of length. Tragedy, by its very nature, is more concentrated and
compact. Hence its size is much more limited than that of the epic. The length of a tragedy is based on
the principle that the work must be short enough to be grasped as an artistic whole. The time limits of
epic are not fixed. The greater size (length) of the epic allowed it more grandeur and dignity in the
treatment of its incidents. The incidents in tragedy have necessarily to “be shorter, and more
concentrated. The introduction of different episodes in an epic makes it more interesting, as they relieve
the dullness and monotony.
 Incidents in tragedy have necessarily been shortened, and more concentrated, while in epic each and
every incident is highly elevated.
 The epic can relate a number of incidents happening simultaneously to different people at the same time.
Tragedy cannot show more than one incident happening at one place at one time. This is what gave rise
to the concept of the Unity of Place. Aristotle says, is that tragedy cannot represent more than one
incident at one time, and that it cannot show incidents happening at different places at the same time.
This is a common sense observation based on the practice of the Greek theatre. The epic allows
multiplicity of stories, which would be unthinkable in the tragedy.
 The epic allows greater scope for marvelous. Tragedy, however, can't make too much use of the
marvelous within the action, for this would see improbable and unconvincing. Epic can relate marvelous
because it is not going to be presented on stage before the eyes of the spectators. So, it is left to the
imagination of the readers. But in tragedy it is not possible, to a greater extent. Indeed, the element of
marvelous adds to the artistic pleasure and wonder of the epic. Such incidents of the marvelous, which
include the supernatural and the irrational, have to be placed outside the action of tragedy.
 The epic uses the mode of the narration, and tragedy uses the mode of dramatics.
 Tragedy has a vividness which is absent in epic.
 Epic narrates in versified language, and does not imitate an action, as tragedy does through acting.
 Tragedy can make use of a greater variety of metres, while the epic has to content itself with the heroic
metre. The heroic metre, or the hexameter is most dignified and grand. It can make use of rare and
strange words. The tragic mode allows the use of metaphors, in the iambic and trochaic, tetrameter. The
iambic verse is close to the speech of men, and suited to imitation of men in action.
 The elements which are, however, only to be found in the tragedy, are Music and Spectacle.
Tragedy is Superior to the Epic : Aristotle’s Conclusion:
Aristotle considers the question of the relative value of epic and tragedy. “Tragedy, he maintains, is richer in its
effects, adding music and spectacle to epic resources; it presents its stories even when read no less vividly than
the epic; it has a stricter unity; its methods are more concentrated; and it produces more effectively the requisite
emotional result, i.e., the pleasure from a catharsis of pity and fear.”