NABIYA, SUJEERA, FARHAT

THE POETICS OF ARISTOTLE: RANK THEM IN ORDER OF IMPORTANTANCE (2 MINS) 6 ELEMENTS: PLOT CHARACTER THOUGHT DICTION SONG SPECTACLE SPECTACLE: includes all aspects of the tragedy that contribute to its sensory effects: costumes, scenery, the gestures of the actors, the sound of the music and the resonance of the actors' voices. DICTATION: When language is used to: depart information, reveal characters, characterize, direct attention, reveal themes and ideas, establish mood / tone SONG: The way in which the sound of the dialogue is pronounced

WHAT IS THE MAIN AIM OF TRAGEDY? The aim of tragedy, Aristotle writes, is to bring about a "catharsis" of the spectators — to arouse in the sensations of pity and fear, and to purge them of these emotions so that they leave the theatre feeling cleansed and uplifted, with a heightened understanding of the ways of gods and men. TASK: DISCUSS IN YOUR PAIRS WHAT EMOTIONS SHAKESPEARE MAKES YOU FEEL IN ANY PART OF HAMLET (2 MINS)

The 9 Elements of Shakespearean Tragedy at a Glance: TASK: ADD A COLUMN TO THE RIGHT CALLED EXAMS AND PROVIDE EXAMPLES FROM HAMLET IN EACH ELEMENT Elements Explanation Tragic Hero A main character cursed by fate and possessed of a tragic flaw. A Struggle Between Good and Evil This struggle can take place as part of the plot or exist within the main character. Hamartia The fatal character flaw of the tragic hero. Tragic Waste The good being destroyed along with the bad at the resolution of the play. Often played out with the unnecessary loss of life, especially of "good guy" characters. External Conflict This can be a problem facing the hero as a result of the plot or a "bad guy" character. Internal Conflict The struggle the hero engages in with his/her fatal flaw. Catharsis The release of the audience's emotions through empathy with the characters. Supernatural Elements Magic, witchcraft, ghosts, etc. Lack of Poetic Justice Things end poorly for everyone, including the "good guys." Comic Relief One or more humorous characters who participate in scenes intended to lighten the mood

ARISTOTLES TRAGEDY According to Aristotle's the three key factors that determine whether or not a tragedy is actually a tragedy is based upon whether or not it is based upon an action The play evokes pity and fear from the audience The audience can relate to the characters

ARISTOTLES TRAGEDY Action Pity and Fear Aristotle states that tragedy is "an imitation of an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude" (p.22). Hamlet is an excellent example of this. The play centres on Hamlet's quest to avenge his father's death; this is a serious action. Pity and Fear Indeed this is represented through hamlets character. He defines pity as a feeling that is aroused by "unmerited misfortune" (p. 27). Hamlet undoubtedly suffers this unmerited misfortune. He has done nothing to bring about his father's death. To make the situation even more painful, his mother has married his uncle whom he suspects is responsible for the tragedy. These circumstances illicit pity from the audience.

ARISTOTLES TRAGEDY Relate to the audience The characters are supposed to be the most perfect people to whom the audience can still relate. Hamlet is a wealthy prince; however he deals with the same problems as the common man. He is confused, paranoid, and angered about the circumstances surrounding his father's death. He is also unsure of himself and does not know how he should handle the situation. The audience can relate to this uncertain feeling and they are able to empathize with Hamlet.

PLOT OF HAMLET SUMMED UP: WITHOUT A PLOT THERE IS NO STORY TASK: IN YOUR PAIRS DISCUSS THE MAIN PLOT OF HAMLET WITHOUT A PLOT THERE IS NO STORY PLOT OF HAMLET: Hamlet is a tragedy set in ancient Denmark. The main protagonist is Prince Hamlet, the son of King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude. When the play opens, King Hamlet has recently died. Claudius, King Hamlet's brother, has been crowned the new King and has married Gertrude. Shortly after his mother's marriage, Prince Hamlet meets his father's spirit. The Ghost appears to Hamlet People believe that King Hamlet was killed by a poisonous snake bite. However, the Ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius. Claudius killed the king by pouring poison into his ear while he slept. He says that Claudius has seduced Gertrude and stolen the throne. The Ghost tells Hamlet that "The serpent that did sting thy father's life / Now wears his crown". The spirit implores Hamlet to seek revenge: "Let not the royal bed of Denmark be / A couch for luxury and damned incest".

PLOT: This should be a complete whole (there should be a beginning, middle and end) He stated, “All human happiness or misery takes the form of action...character gives us qualities, but it is in our actions what we do that we are happy or miserable.”   1. There must be Unity of Plot  “one complete action.” Any events or episodes must be necessary to the main issue and must also be probable or believable.  2. A good plot has Peripety or Discover or both.  Peripety is the change from one state of things at the beginning of the play to the exact opposite state by the end of the play.  rich to poor, beggar to ruler, melancholy to happy.  The change that takes place in a tragedy should take the main character (and possibly other characters) from a state of happiness to a state of misery.  Discovery is a change from ignorance to knowledge. This often happens to the tragic hero who starts out “clueless” and slowly learns how he himself created the mess he ends up in at the end of the play.

CHARACTER: a person in a play TASK: WRITE DOWN A FEW WORDS DESCRIBING EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS (3 MINS) HAMLET KING HAMLET (GHOST) CLAUDIUS GETRUDE POLONIUS OPHELIA INDECISIVE, IMPULSIVE, MELANCHOLY MANIPULATIVE, DEMANDING SINFUL, SINISTER, VISCIOUS INCONSIDERATE, WEAK SELF-ABSORBED, CARING INNOCENT, NAÏVE

How does Aristotle's idea of the "plot" link to Hamlet ? Unity of Plot  It is likely that Hamlet would seek revenge on Claudius - for the murder of his blood-related father.  Peripety  (turning point in the play or reversed circumstances) Claudius went from being powerless before he got hold of the throne to being powerful by murdering the King and marrying the Queen.  Discovery  Hamlet's discovery of his father's murderer and how he uses this to seek revenge. 

THOUGHT: Thought means what the characters think or feel during their career in the development of the plot. The thought is expressed through their speeches and dialogues. In this case through the characters soliloquies which reveal their innermost feelings that are shared in front of the Elizabethan audience. Example: Hamlets ‘to be or not to be’ soliloquy in act III scene I. This is where he discusses his confusion to the audience whether to kill or not to kill himself but then he realises the sin he will commit in doing so.

TASK: FIND EVIDENCE IN THE PLAY IN WHICH SHOWS DICTION (4 MINS) DICTATION: When language is used to: depart information, reveal characters, characterize, direct attention, reveal themes and ideas, establish mood / tone DICTATION: Example from Hamlet: HAMLET: “Get thee to a nunnery” Act III scene I Hamlet is venting out his frustration with his mother on Ophelia because he has let all the anger build up. He tells her to go to a nunnery because that way she cannot get married or have children so she will not have to face men like Claudius. TASK: FIND EVIDENCE IN THE PLAY IN WHICH SHOWS DICTION (4 MINS)

SONG: Shakespeare writes in IAMBIC PANTAMETER Example from Hamlet: HAMLET “O that this too too sallied flesh would melt” In Act Four Scene Three of Hamlet, Ophelia appears onstage after she has gone mad. Her first line as she enters is a song, and in some versions of the play, the stage directions indicate that she is holding a lute. (a plucked string instrument)

SPECTACLE: Example from Hamlet: includes all aspects of the tragedy that contribute to its sensory effects: costumes, scenery, the gestures of the actors, the sound of the music and the resonance of the actors' voices. SPECTACLE: Example from Hamlet: -The play within the play in act III scene II The play reflects the situation in Denmark, where Claudius has murdered Hamlet's father, who was married to Gertrude, and he has now become king. Hamlets aim is to prove whether or not Claudius was actually responsible for his fathers death and through this he hopes to get Claudius to admit to his crime.

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