Abstract
'Narrative Theory' is an online introduction to classical structuralist narratological analysis. The first section addresses the structure of the action or fabula, a mode of analysis that originates in Aristotle's 'Poetics', a seminal work in the theory of narrative. Aristotle's main concepts bearing on fabula structure are examined: his definition of plot and unity of action, his classification of kinds of plots, taking into account the characters' knowledge, and his conception of the sections of plots. This is followed by an account of his theory of characters.
Highlights
The essence of tragedy and its greatness lies in that it allows the portrayal of an action, which an epigram could not do
That ability is what defines a tragedy as a tragedy; it is appropriate that the making of good plots is more difficult than the portrayal of good open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API
Aristotle himself did not pay much attention to this opposition between action and plot; we may note that he does not include "action" as one of the six constituent elements of tragedy. He probably he felt that the presence of plot or mythos in that list accounted for both action and plot, fabula and story, as the action would only be seen through the plot. He seems to think that action is something in some way previous or external to the tragedy: it is only action-as-imitated, or plot, which is a central concept of poetics
Summary
The mythos, "plot" or "structure of the incidents" is for Aristotle the main part of the tragedy: But most important of all is the structure of the incidents. Aristotle himself did not pay much attention to this opposition between action and plot; we may note that he does not include "action" as one of the six constituent elements of tragedy He probably he felt that the presence of plot or mythos in that list accounted for both action and plot, fabula and story, as the action would only be seen through the plot. He seems to think that action is something in some way previous or external to the tragedy: it is only action-as-imitated, or plot, which is a central concept of poetics. Open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com
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