ragedy imitates important, real-life actions. These actions are serious, complete, and meaningful. For example, “Oedipus Rex” shows a king’s downfall due to fate and mistakes. Unlike history (which tells facts), tragedy shows what could happen. It teaches moral lessons through imitation. The famous definition of tragedy is: 

“Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; … through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions.” 

Complete and Well-Structured Plot: Plot is the soul of tragedy. It must have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Events should connect logically, not randomly. A good plot follows cause and effect. For example, Oedipus’s curiosity leads him to discover his tragic fate. Aristotle prefers complex plots with twists (peripeteia) and discoveries (anagnorisis). Simple plots lack surprises and are less powerful. A strong plot makes tragedy impactful. About Plot, Aristotle says:

“...Now a whole is that which has a beginning, a middle and an end.”

Mimesis (Imitation): Tragedy is an imitation of real-life actions. It shows human life and problems through a serious story. It is not just told like a story but acted out on stage. This imitation helps people to understand real emotions, duties, and decisions in life. Imitation must be an action as described here: 

“The objects the imitator represents are actions with agents who are necessarily either good men or bad.”

Language and Music: Aristotle says tragedy uses special language. This includes rhythm, music, and songs. Different parts of the play may use different styles. Some parts are spoken in verse. Some are sung by the chorus. These artistic elements make the play more beautiful and emotional. The music and rhythm help the audience feel the mood of the story. But even without music or stage effects, a strong story can still touch the heart. So, language and music add beauty, but the story is still most important.

The Six Parts: Aristotle also says that tragedy has six parts: plot, character, thought, diction, song, and spectacle. Aristotle ranks tragedy’s six parts by importance. Among these, plot is the most important. It is the story and the way the events are arranged. A good plot makes the tragedy strong. Characters are also important, but the story comes first. Thought means the ideas in the play. Diction is the style of speaking. Song adds music and emotion. Spectacle means what we see on stage. But plot is the soul of tragedy. A great tragedy (like Macbeth) balances all parts but prioritizes plot.

To sum up, Aristotle gave a deep and clear idea about tragedy. He said that tragedy is a serious and complete action. It is shown on stage with beautiful language and music. Its main aim is to create pity and fear in the audience and to cleanse their emotions. He also explained the six parts of tragedy. This definition helps us understand how tragedy works and why it is so powerful in drama and literature.