SHAKESPEARE TERMS And some other stuff.

Aristotelian terms Aristotle who? Greek philosopher; 384 BC-322 BC Poetics Earliest surviving work of dramatic theory &literary theory. Origin of Tragedy Imitation built into humans; lower humans: comedy; better men & noble actions: tragedy. Develops from epic poetry. Improvised originally. Plot over diction. Actions determine happiness of character.

Aristotelian terms (cont.) TRAGEDY: Imitation of an action that causes pity and terror. REVENGE TRAGEDY: Origin rooted in history [no laws, no crime]. Blood feuds [outlawed by Tudors]. Motive & actions for revenge, leading to death of murderer + avenger. Traits: revenge of a father for the son [vice versa] directed by ghost of murdered man; hesitation of hero; insanity; suicide; intrigue; villain; philosophic soliloquy; murders on stage; obstacles, mistakes; bloody showdown. HAMARTIA: “to miss the mark” [archery]. Tragic flaw that brings protagonist to destruction.

Aristotelian terms (cont.) PERIPERTEIA: Reversal of fortune [rising actionfalling action]. Protagonist begins to lose. CATHARSIS: Pity and fear experienced by audience @ final downfall of protagonist. ANAGNORISIS: Enlightenment of protagonist. Discovery. MIMESIS: Imitation of real action. Plot must be true to life. Plot elements must logically follow each other.

Shakespeare terms TRAGEDY: Means goat song. Originally, kings were sacrificed. Then surrogate king or king’s son. Then animals [Abraham & Isaac]. Represents surrogate sacrifice [dramatic rather than actual]. TRAGIC HERO: Sense of tragic waste, admiration. Tragic flaw is monumental obsession. Crack in tragic hero is crack in universe. FOIL CHARACTER: Reflects upon another character by displaying characteristics that are directly opposite. [foil under diamond for shine]. DEUS EX MACHINA: The God in the machine [Greek plays]. Decided to resolve all problems. Contrived conclusion.

Eight to go! THE OTHER: The establishment of self and other that allows the displacement of unattractive qualities to the Other. This allowed the culture to contain anything that is foreign by fixing it and assigning certain qualities. [Jews & Africans.] VICE FIGURE: Main influences of morality play. Tempter. Developed from Satan character. Star of the show. Comical. Hypocrite who masquerades as virtue. Loves evil for evil’s sake; needs no credible psychological motivation. Lures protagonist away from good council and virtue. Different from the Machiavel. STAGE MACHIAVEL: Evil, but because he wants something. Typically, power.

Seven left! Hang in there! SOLILOQUY: Speech delivered by a character who is alone on stage. Reflects what he/she is feeling/thinking & is what he/she believes to be true. ASIDE: A line said while other characters are onstage but is not intended to be heard by them. REALPOLITIK: Developed from Machiavelli. Order and power must be secured by the ruler of the government at any cost. The end justifies the means.

Six and we’re done! COURTLY LOVE: Medieval European conception of nobly and chivalrously expressing love and admiration. Developed from medieval worship of Virgin Mary. PETRARCHAN LOVER: Spiritualizes courtly love. The pursuit of love is ennobling and the beloved is put on a pedestal. Humble, courteous, and an obedient servant. Unrequited love. OVIDIAN LOVER: Love expressed purely in physical terms.

Five to finish! GOLDEN CHAIN: Hierarchical structure that gives order to universe. Elizabethans believe that without this order, there would be chaos resulting in anarchy. Chain begins with spiritual: 1. God - which embodies pure actuality. 2. Angels [reason]. 3. Humans [link between spiritual/physical world; possess rational, animal, vegetative soul (composite of all things on earth, animals, humans, vegetables).] Reflected in ALL earthly/heavenly structures. [family: father, mother, child. State: monarch, aristocracy, commoners.]

Four and it’s over! PRIMATES: Epitome of excellence of everything on the chain [Golden Chain]. Primate of Human  King Primate of Mammal  Lion Primate of Bird  Eagle Primate of Fish  Dolphin/Whale Primate of Tree  Oak Primate of Fruit  Apple Primate of Minerals  Gold Primate of Stone  Diamond

Three to go! ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF KINGS: God sanctified the King’s right to rule. Only God can punish a tyrant. DOCTRINE OF CONSCIENCE: One’s conscience should guide behavior. If a ruler is a tyrant, then ppl have the right to remove him/her [Protestant notion]. PSYCHOMACHIA: Struggle between good and evil within the soul of every man. Basis for many soliloquies.

Two left! DOMINANT IDEOLOGY: [believed by most] Elizabethan world picture. No deviation from established order; no change, even if you know it’s for the best. Earth was center of world. Absolute right of kings. Rebellion was against God’s law. RESIDUAL IDEOLOGY: [old ideas still in circulation] Feudalism Scholasticism [books  knowledge] Kinship over family Arranged marriage Catholicism

One more! EMERGING IDEOLOGY: [New ideas beginning to be expressed in culture] Empiricism [observation + experience  knowledge] Skepticism [Humans are not so great after all; humans equated with animals; arrogant, vain, frail; Questions Golden Chain/Order of Elizabethan universe] Heliocentrism [Earth loses its place of privilege; goes against biblical beliefs] Literacy Doctrine of consciousness Capitalism Early equality Life expectancy >30 yrs.

Almost done! Gender Roles: Rule of thumb Women chaste, dutiful, silent.