January 30 th

1. January 30th • Objective: • We will Indentify characteristics of an Aristotelian Tragic hero and Tragedy so we can define tragedy. We will have it when we can evaluate and event and determine whether it fits the definition of tragedy. Warm-Up: Tragedy (answer on separate piece of paper to continue notes.) • Vividly describe a situation you believe to be a tragedy. (This can be from history or fiction) • Describe what you think of when you hear the term tragedy. What defines or makes something a tragedy versus just something sad? If you had to take the reflection home, place it in the bin.

2. Aristotelian Tragedy the original tragedy

3. Tragedy • So what is tragedy actually? • a literary and particularly a dramatic presentation of serious actions in which the chief character has a disastrous fate. (cuny.edu) • “Tragedy is a form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear. Its action should be single and complete, presenting a reversal of fortune, involving persons renowned and of superior attainments, and it should be written in poetry embellished with every kind of artistic expression.” (Aristotle) • "tragic pleasure of pity and fear"

4. Aristotle • Greek Philosopher • a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great • His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology. • Together with Plato and Socrates (Plato's teacher), Aristotle is one of the most important founding figures in Western philosophy.

5. Poetics • the earliest-surviving work of dramatic theory and the first extant philosophical treatise to focus on literary criticism • offers an account of what he calls "poetry" • He examines its "first principles" and identifies its genres and basic elements; his analysis of tragedy constitutes the core of the discussion.

6. Setting • Setting and staging are the least important aspect of A. Tragedy • Unity of Place - a play should cover a single physical space and should not attempt to compress geography, nor should the stage represent more than one place. • Unity of Time - the action in a play should take place over no more than 24 hours.

7. Freytag’s Triangle Unity of Action Anagnorisis Catastrophe Peripeteia Resolution Incentive moment

8. Vocabulary To understand this discussion of tragedy, we must first have a basic understanding of the vocabulary used. • Incentive Moment - problem that sets the action of the play into motion • Peripeteia – reversal of circumstances, turning point • Anagnorisis – climax, moment of recognition or critical discovery • Catastrophe – falling action, dramatic response to anagnorisis • End-Resolution K/Catharsis – purgation of emotion at the end of play

9. Freytag’s Triangle Climax Causes and effects emphasized Cause emphasized Effects downplayed Resolution Incentive Moment Cause downplayed, Effects emphasized

10. ALL Tragic Heroes All tragic heroes should… • Be good/better than the average person • Goes from prosperity to poor fortune • Tragic Flaw (Hubris, ambition) • A personal characteristic that will lead to their demise/downfall

11. Aristotelian Hero • Has the general qualities of a Tragic Hero, but also • Has a moment of recognition, when he realizes his tragic flaw is the cause of the tragedy. • Will not die in the end, instead must live on with a terrible punishment that reminds other’s of his flaw • Punishment exceeds crime

12. Theme • Aristotelian tragedy: Man cannot escape fate. (helplessness of man)

13. Actors • All roles played by three paid actors. • Women were not allowed to act on the stage; men played female roles. • All actors wore masks with subtle variations for different characters.

14. The Chorus • non-professionals who had a talent for singing and dancing and were trained by the poet for the performance. • standard number of members of a chorus was twelve, but was raised to fifteen by Sophocles. • The chorus, like the actors, wore costumes and masks. • The first function of a tragic chorus was to chantan entrance song as they marched into the orchestra. • It engaged in dialogue with characters through its leader who alone spoke lines of dialogue assigned to the chorus. • The tragic chorus's most important function was to sing and dance choral songs.

15. Closure • Re- examine the scenario you originally identified as a tragedy. According to our definitions of tragedy, would it fit the description of a tragedy? In 2-3 sentences, explain why or why not.

16. Closure: Is Into Thin Air a tragedy? • Is Into Thin Air a tragedy? • Plot: Can you clearly trace the cause and effect, identify an incentive moment, catastrophe, and resolution? • Characters: Tragic heroes? • Theme: Can you connect the either theme of tragedy to Into Thin Air?

17. November 15th • Objective: We will evaluate our feelings on fate by comparing our lives to our own horoscope. We will do this so we can compare our view of fate to the Aristotelian of fate through out the novel. • Warm-Up: Horoscope • Pick Up Your Horoscope Profile. • Read your horoscope. • Respond: Do you feel it represents you? • Take a minute to discuss this with the person next to you. • Do you believe in fate? Is your life and personality determined for you at birth? • Hw: Vocabulary Sections 1 and 2

18. What goes on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs at noon, and 3 in the evening?