Poetics Characters
A
Aristotle
Narrator
Analytical
Philosophical
Systematic
Scholarly
Aristotle was a great Greek thinker who wrote Poetics, a work explaining poetry and especially tragedy. He argues that poetry is natural and that tragedy produces fear, pity, and catharsis in its audience.
O
Oedipus
Protagonist
Tragic
Determined
Self-destructive
Noble
Oedipus is a tragic king in Greek stories who kills his father and marries his mother, ultimately blinding himself upon discovering the truth. Aristotle uses him as a key example to explain the concepts of recognition and reversal in tragedy.
I
Iphigeneia
Supporting
Resilient
Fortunate
Recognizable
Innocent
Iphigeneia is a princess from Greek stories who narrowly escapes sacrifice and later reunites with her brother. Aristotle uses her story to illustrate the power of sudden recognition in dramatic plots.
O
Odysseus
Supporting
Cunning
Deceptive
Resourceful
Heroic
Odysseus is a famous hero from Greek myths known for concealing his identity, which is eventually revealed by a nurse. Aristotle cites this scene as a notable example of recognition and reversal in tragedy.
S
Sophocles
Supporting
Innovative
Skilled
Dramatic
Influential
Sophocles was a Greek playwright best known for writing tragic plays such as Oedipus Rex. Aristotle praises him for introducing a third actor and incorporating stage painting to enhance dramatic performance.
H
Homer
Supporting
Masterful
Foundational
Poetic
Influential
Homer was a Greek poet who composed the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. Aristotle admires him for his excellent use of plot and language, crediting him with helping shape the early development of poetry.
A
Achilles
Supporting
Heroic
Fierce
Moral
Balanced
Achilles is a hero from Homer's Iliad who slays Hector yet is still portrayed as a fundamentally good man. Aristotle uses him to suggest that poets should strive to create balanced and morally grounded characters.
A
Aegisthus
Antagonist
Villainous
Violent
Treacherous
Murderous
Aegisthus is a villain in Greek mythology who kills Agamemnon with the help of Orestes's mother, and is later killed by Orestes in return. Aristotle uses him to illustrate the theme of violence and retribution in tragedy.
A
Aeschylus
Supporting
Pioneering
Innovative
Dramatic
Foundational
Aeschylus was an early Greek playwright credited with introducing the second actor in theatrical performances. Aristotle references his Oresteia as an example of well-crafted tragedy and strong character development.
A
Ajax
Supporting
Proud
Sorrowful
Suffering
Tragic
Ajax is a Greek hero who becomes overwhelmed with grief after losing a prize to Odysseus and ultimately takes his own life. Aristotle notes that poems centered on Ajax are characterized by intense suffering and pain.
C
Creon
Supporting
Authoritative
Rigid
Kingly
Unempathetic
Creon is a king in Greek stories who, in Antigone, survives an attempt on his life by his son Haemon without any real suffering resulting. Aristotle uses this as an example of a weak tragic plot due to its lack of genuine emotional consequence.
H
Hector
Supporting
Brave
Noble
Princely
Doomed
Hector is a courageous prince from the Iliad who is chased around Troy and ultimately slain by Achilles. Aristotle considers such chase scenes inappropriate for tragedy but acceptable within the broader scope of epic poetry.
M
Medea
Protagonist
Passionate
Vengeful
Tragic
Desperate
Medea is a tragic woman who kills her own children after being abandoned by her husband. Aristotle uses her story as a prime example of how tragedy can effectively generate fear and pity in its audience.
M
Menelaus
Minor
Unhelpful
Cruel
Unreasonable
Kingly
Menelaus is a king and the uncle of Orestes who refuses to aid his nephew in Euripides's play. Aristotle criticizes this portrayal as poor writing, arguing that a character should not act with cruelty unless there is a clear and justified reason.
M
Merope
Symbolic
Unknowing
Maternal
Compassionate
Recognizing
Merope is a queen who nearly kills her own son without realizing his identity, stopping only upon recognizing him in time. Aristotle regards this type of plot as the finest in tragedy, as it combines deep pity with the powerful moment of recognition.
O
Orestes
Protagonist
Vengeful
Conflicted
Recognizable
Courageous
Orestes is the brother of Iphigeneia who kills his mother and stepfather, with his true identity initially concealed and later revealed. Aristotle uses his story to demonstrate how recognition functions effectively within well-constructed tragedies.
E
Euripides
Minor
Dramatic
Emotionally evocative
Skilled
Influential
Euripides was a celebrated Greek tragedy writer whose plays Medea and Orestes are referenced by Aristotle in Poetics. Aristotle uses his works to illustrate how tragedy can powerfully evoke fear, pity, and profound emotional responses.
A
Aristophanes
Minor
Comic
Brief
Humorous
Aristophanes was a Greek playwright known for writing comedies. Aristotle mentions him only briefly in Poetics, as the section of the work dedicated to comedy has been lost.
H
Herodotus
Minor
Historical
Factual
Scholarly
Methodical
Herodotus was a Greek historian cited by Aristotle to draw a distinction between history and poetry. Aristotle argues that while history records what actually happened, poetry explores what could happen, making it the more philosophically artistic of the two.