What is Aristotle’s definition of tragedy?
A. An imitation of human action that is serious and complete,
with magnitude and with language that has been made pleasurable.
B. A story with a happy ending that is designed to entertain the
audience.
C. A performance that is meant to showcase the skill of the
actors and the playwright.
D. A form of comedy that involves mistaken identities and absurd
situations.
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the role of catharsis in
tragedy?
A. To purify the emotions of the audience.
B. To make the audience laugh and forget their troubles.
C. To shock the audience and make them feel uncomfortable.
D. To create a sense of mystery and suspense.
Answer: A
What is Aristotle’s view on the importance of plot in a tragedy?
A. The plot is the most important element of a tragedy, as it is
the arrangement of events that creates a unified whole.
B. The plot is not as important as the characters or the
dialogue in a tragedy.
C. The plot should be simple and easy to understand, so that the
audience can focus on the characters and their emotions.
D. The plot should be complex and convoluted, to keep the
audience guessing.
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the difference between a tragic
hero and a non-tragic hero?
A. A tragic hero has a fatal flaw or error in judgment that
leads to their downfall, while a non-tragic hero does not.
B. A tragic hero is always a king or ruler, while a non-tragic
hero can be anyone.
C. A tragic hero is always a sympathetic character, while a
non-tragic hero can be unsympathetic.
D. A tragic hero always dies at the end of the play, while a
non-tragic hero does not.
Answer: A
What is Aristotle’s view on the use of spectacle in tragedy?
A. Spectacle should be used sparingly and only to enhance the
dramatic effect of the play.
B. Spectacle is the most important element of a tragedy, as it
is what captures the audience’s attention.
C. Spectacle should be avoided altogether, as it detracts from
the intellectual and emotional aspects of the play.
D. Spectacle is important, but only if it is used to highlight
the characters and their actions.
Answer: A
What is the aim of poetry, according to Aristotle’s
“Poetics”?
A. To teach moral lessons
B. To entertain the audience
C. To imitate reality
D. To showcase the writer’s language skills
Answer: C
What is the difference between epic poetry and tragedy,
according to Aristotle?
A. Epic poetry is serious, while tragedy is humorous.
B. Epic poetry is written in prose, while tragedy is written in
verse.
C. Epic poetry is narrative, while tragedy is dramatic.
D. Epic poetry has a happy ending, while tragedy has a sad
ending.
Answer: C
What is the significance of the “hamartia” in a tragic
hero, according to Aristotle?
A. It is the hero’s fatal flaw that leads to their downfall.
B. It is the hero’s physical weakness that makes them
vulnerable.
C. It is the hero’s lack of intelligence that causes them to
make mistakes.
D. It is the hero’s virtue that makes them admirable.
Answer: A
What is the “anagnorisis” in a tragedy, according to
Aristotle?
A. The tragic hero’s moment of recognition or discovery.
B. The moment when the hero is crowned king.
C. The moment when the hero is exiled from their homeland.
D. The moment when the hero is betrayed by a close friend.
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the difference between
“mimesis” and “diegesis”?
A. Mimesis refers to the imitation of action, while diegesis
refers to the narration of action.
B. Mimesis refers to the narration of action, while diegesis
refers to the imitation of action.
C. Mimesis refers to the imitation of character, while diegesis
refers to the narration of character.
D. Mimesis refers to the narration of character, while diegesis
refers to the imitation of character.
Answer: A
What is the role of the chorus in Greek tragedy, according to
Aristotle?
A. To provide comic relief for the audience.
B. To express the emotions and opinions of the audience.
C. To criticize the actions of the main characters.
D. To act as a mediator between the audience and the main
characters.
Answer: B
What is the “peripeteia” in a tragedy, according to
Aristotle?
A. The turning point in the plot when the hero’s fortune
changes.
B. The moment when the hero realizes their mistake.
C. The moment when the hero is exiled from their homeland.
D. The moment when the hero is betrayed by a close friend.
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the difference between
“pathos” and “catharsis”?
A. Pathos refers to the emotional response of the audience,
while catharsis refers to the emotional purification of the audience.
B. Pathos refers to the emotional purification of the audience,
while catharsis refers to the emotional response of the audience.
C. Pathos refers to the emotional response of the characters,
while catharsis refers to the emotional response of the audience.
D. Pathos refers to the emotional purification of the
characters, while catharsis refers to the emotional response of the audience.
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the purpose of tragedy?
A) To educate the audience
B) To entertain the audience
C) To inspire the audience
D) To arouse the emotions of the audience
Answer: D
According to Aristotle, what is the most important element of
tragedy?
A) Plot
B) Character
C) Thought
D) Diction
Answer: A
What is the term Aristotle used for the process of arousing
emotions in the audience through the plot?
A) Catharsis
B) Anagnorisis
C) Peripeteia
D) Hamartia
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the difference between a plot
and a story?
A) A plot is a series of events, while a story is a summary of
those events.
B) A plot is a summary of events, while a story is a series of
those events.
C) A plot is a cause-and-effect chain of events, while a story
is a narrative.
D) A plot is the theme of the play, while a story is the
message.
Answer: C
What is the term Aristotle used for the moment of recognition or
realization in tragedy?
A) Catharsis
B) Anagnorisis
C) Peripeteia
D) Hamartia
Answer: B
What is the term Aristotle used for the reversal of fortune in
tragedy?
A) Catharsis
B) Anagnorisis
C) Peripeteia
D) Hamartia
Answer: C
According to Aristotle, what is the role of the chorus in
tragedy?
A) To provide exposition and background information
B) To comment on the action and offer moral lessons
C) To represent the common people
D) To provide comic relief
Answer: B
According to Aristotle, what is the term for the tragic flaw or
error in judgment that leads to a character’s downfall?
A) Catharsis
B) Anagnorisis
C) Peripeteia
D) Hamartia
Answer: D
What is the term Aristotle used for the language used in a
tragedy?
A) Plot
B) Character
C) Thought
D) Diction
Answer: D
According to Aristotle, what is the term for the emotional state
that tragedy should evoke in the audience?
A) Fear
B) Pity
C) Anger
D) Joy
Answer: B
What is the term Aristotle used for the imitation of human
action in language, rhythm, and harmony?
A) Plot
B) Character
C) Thought
D) Music
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the term for the moment of
crisis in tragedy?
A) Catharsis
B) Anagnorisis
C) Peripeteia
D) Hamartia
Answer: C
According to Aristotle, what is the term for the
“decorative” elements of tragedy such as music, costumes, and stage
design?
A) Mimesis
B) Catharsis
C) Spectacle
D) Anagnorisis
Answer: C
What is the term Aristotle used for the imitation of character
and action in a play?
A) Mimesis
B) Catharsis
C) Spectacle
D) Anagnorisis
Answer: A
According to Aristotle’s “Poetics,” what is the
purpose of tragedy?
A) To make the audience laugh
B) To teach a moral lesson
C) To inspire patriotism
D) To evoke feelings of pity and fear
Answer: D
According to Aristotle, what is the most important element of
tragedy?
A) Character
B) Plot
C) Theme
D) Language
Answer: B
According to Aristotle, what is the “anagnorisis” in a
tragedy?
A) The moment when the hero realizes his mistake
B) The moment when the hero is punished
C) The moment when the hero dies
D) The moment when the hero achieves his goal
Answer: A
What does Aristotle mean by “catharsis” in a tragedy?
A) The resolution of the plot
B) The audience’s emotional release
C) The moral lesson of the play
D) The character’s internal conflict
Answer: B
According to Aristotle, what is the difference between tragedy
and epic poetry?
A) Tragedy is written in verse, while epic poetry is written in
prose.
B) Tragedy deals with noble characters and has a more limited
scope than epic poetry.
C) Tragedy is meant to be performed on stage, while epic poetry
is meant to be read.
D) Tragedy has a happy ending, while epic poetry does not.
Answer: B
What is the role of the chorus in a tragedy, according to
Aristotle?
A) To provide comic relief
B) To interact with the main characters
C) To comment on the action of the play
D) To represent the voice of the gods
Answer: C
According to Aristotle, what is the “hamartia” in a
tragedy?
A) The tragic flaw of the hero
B) The punishment of the hero
C) The moment of recognition by the hero
D) The final resolution of the plot
Answer: A
What is the difference between tragedy and comedy, according to
Aristotle?
A) Tragedy deals with serious subject matter, while comedy deals
with lighthearted subject matter.
B) Tragedy has a happy ending, while comedy does not.
C) Tragedy evokes feelings of pity and fear, while comedy evokes
feelings of laughter.
D) Tragedy is performed in front of a serious audience, while
comedy is performed in front of a light-hearted audience.
Answer: C
According to Aristotle, what is the “peripeteia” in a
tragedy?
A) The reversal of fortune for the hero
B) The moment when the hero realizes his mistake
C) The punishment of the hero
D) The final resolution of the plot
Answer: A
What is the difference between tragedy and melodrama, according
to Aristotle?
A) Tragedy deals with serious subject matter, while melodrama
deals with exaggerated and sensational subject matter.
B) Tragedy has a happy ending, while melodrama does not.
C) Tragedy evokes feelings of pity and fear, while melodrama
evokes feelings of sentimentality.
D) Tragedy is performed in front of a serious audience, while
melodrama is performed in front of a sensational audience.
Answer: A
What is the difference between tragedy and farce, according to
Aristotle?
A) Tragedy deals with serious subject matter, while farce deals
with exaggerated and ridiculous subject matter.
B) Tragedy has a happy ending, while farce does not.
C) Tragedy evokes feelings of pity and fear, while farce evokes
feelings of laughter.
D) Tragedy is performed in front of a serious audience, while
farce is performed in front of a light-hearted audience.
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the “mimesis” in a
tragedy?
A) The plot of the play
B) The character’s internal conflict
C) The imitation of life
D) The final resolution of the plot
Answer: C
What is the difference between tragedy and romance, according to
Aristotle?
A) Tragedy deals with serious subject matter, while romance
deals with idealized and fantastical subject matter.
B) Tragedy has a happy ending, while romance does not.
C) Tragedy evokes feelings of pity and fear, while romance
evokes feelings of joy and happiness.
D) Tragedy is performed in front of a serious audience, while
romance is performed in front of a romantic audience.
Answer: A
What is the difference between tragedy and satire, according to
Aristotle?
A) Tragedy deals with serious subject matter, while satire deals
with social criticism through humor and irony.
B) Tragedy has a happy ending, while satire does not.
C) Tragedy evokes feelings of pity and fear, while satire evokes
feelings of ridicule and mockery.
D) Tragedy is performed in front of a serious audience, while
satire is performed in front of a critical audience.
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the “anagnorisis” in a
comedy?
A) The moment when the hero realizes his mistake
B) The moment when the hero is punished
C) The moment when the hero dies
D) The moment when the hero achieves his goal
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the “peripeteia” in a
comedy?
A) The reversal of fortune for the hero
B) The moment when the hero realizes his mistake
C) The punishment of the hero
D) The final resolution of the plot
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the difference between tragedy
and history?
A) Tragedy deals with fictional characters, while history deals
with real characters and events.
B) Tragedy has a happy ending, while history does not.
C) Tragedy evokes feelings of pity and fear, while history
evokes feelings of patriotism.
D) Tragedy is performed in front of a serious audience, while
history is read by scholars.
Answer: A
According to Aristotle, what is the “katharsis” in a
comedy?
A) The resolution of the plot
B) The audience’s emotional release
C) The moral lesson of the play
D) The character’s internal conflict
Answer: B
What is the role of the “agon” in a tragedy, according
to Aristotle?
A) The resolution of the plot
B) The moment of recognition by the hero
C) The interaction between the hero and the antagonist
D) The character’s internal conflict
Answer: C
According to Aristotle, what is the role of the
“prologue” in a tragedy?
A) To provide background information on the characters and the
situation
B) To introduce the main character
C) To set the tone for the play
D) To provide comic relief
Answer: A
Which of the following terms is NOT used in Aristotle’s
“Poetics”?
a) Mimesis
b) Catharsis
c) Hypokrisis
d) Hamartia
Answer: c) Hypokrisis
According to Aristotle, which of the following is NOT a form of
poetry?
a) Epic
b) Lyric
c) Tragedy
d) Comedy
Answer: d) Comedy
Which of the following is NOT one of Aristotle’s six elements of
tragedy?
a) Plot
b) Character
c) Dialogue
d) Thought
Answer: c) Dialogue
According to Aristotle, what is the purpose of poetry?
a) To entertain
b) To educate
c) To imitate reality
d) To convey moral messages
Answer: c) To imitate reality
Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a successful
tragedy according to Aristotle?
a) Unity of time
b) Unity of place
c) Unity of action
d) Unity of language
Answer: d) Unity of language
What is the role of the chorus in Greek tragedy, according to
Aristotle?
a) To provide comic relief
b) To interact with the main characters
c) To provide commentary on the action
d) To perform musical interludes
Answer: c) To provide commentary on the action
What is the definition of “hamartia” in Aristotle’s
“Poetics”?
a) The tragic hero’s downfall
b) The turning point of the action
c) The moment of realization by the tragic hero
d) The element of surprise in the plot
Answer: a) The tragic hero’s downfall
According to Aristotle, what is the function of
“anagnorisis” in tragedy?
a) To provide comic relief
b) To heighten the tragic effect
c) To provide exposition
d) To introduce a new character
Answer: b) To heighten the tragic effect
Which of the following is NOT one of Aristotle’s three unities?
a) Unity of time
b) Unity of place
c) Unity of action
d) Unity of language
Answer: d) Unity of language
According to Aristotle, which of the following is NOT an
essential component of a tragic hero?
a) Nobility of character
b) Flaw or error in judgment
c) Capacity for suffering
d) Lack of free will
Answer: d) Lack of free will
According to Aristotle, what is the difference between a tragedy
and an epic?
a) Tragedy is written in verse, while epic is written in prose.
b) Tragedy tells the story of a single character, while epic
tells the story of a nation.
c) Tragedy is based on real events, while epic is based on
mythology.
d) Tragedy focuses on character and action, while epic focuses
on description and narration.
Answer: d) Tragedy focuses on character and action, while epic
focuses on description and narration.
According to Aristotle, what is the role of pity and fear in
tragedy?
a) To make the audience laugh
b) To create suspense
c) To elicit a catharsis of emotions
d) To demonstrate the hero’s courage
Answer: c) To elicit a catharsis of emotions
What is the definition of “peripeteia” in Aristotle’s
“Poetics”?
a) The moment of recognition or discovery
b) The moment of reversal of fortune
c) The moment of crisis or turning point
d) The moment of resolution or denouement
Answer: b) The moment of reversal of fortune
What is the definition of “mimesis” in Aristotle’s
“Poetics”?
a) The portrayal of idealized characters
b) The portrayal of realistic characters
c) The portrayal of fictional events
d) The portrayal of a physical object or action
Answer: b) The portrayal of realistic characters
According to Aristotle, what is the difference between a tragedy
and a comedy?
a) Tragedy has a happy ending, while comedy has a sad ending.
b) Tragedy focuses on individual characters, while comedy
focuses on society as a whole.
c) Tragedy deals with serious themes, while comedy deals with
trivial themes.
d) Tragedy elicits pity and fear, while comedy elicits laughter.
Answer: d) Tragedy elicits pity and fear, while comedy elicits
laughter.
What is the definition of “catharsis” in Aristotle’s
“Poetics”?
a) The emotional release experienced by the audience
b) The moment of recognition or discovery
c) The moment of crisis or turning point
d) The moment of reversal of fortune
Answer: a) The emotional release experienced by the audience
According to Aristotle, what is the difference between a simple
and a complex plot?
a) A simple plot has only one character, while a complex plot
has multiple characters.
b) A simple plot has only one action, while a complex plot has
multiple actions.
c) A simple plot has a single ending, while a complex plot has
multiple possible endings.
d) A simple plot has a clear cause-and-effect sequence, while a
complex plot has multiple causes and effects.
Answer: d) A simple plot has a clear cause-and-effect sequence,
while a complex plot has multiple causes and effects.
According to Aristotle, what is the definition of
“anagnorisis”?
a) The moment of reversal of fortune
b) The moment of recognition or discovery
c) The moment of crisis or turning point
d) The moment of resolution or denouement
Answer: b) The moment of recognition or discovery
According to Aristotle, what is the definition of
“mythos”?
a) The structure of the plot
b) The characterization of the hero
c) The use of language and style
d) The portrayal of emotions
Answer: a) The structure of the plot
According to Aristotle, what is the most important element of
tragedy?
a) Plot
b) Character
c) Theme
d) Dialogue
Answer: a) Plot
What does Aristotle say about the role of spectacle in tragedy?
a) It is the most important element of tragedy
b) It should be avoided altogether
c) It should be used sparingly and only when necessary
d) It is only important in comedy, not tragedy
Answer: c) It should be used sparingly and only when necessary
What is Aristotle’s definition of “catharsis”?
a) The emotional release experienced by the audience at the end
of a tragedy
b) The purification or purgation of emotions through art
c) The process of resolving the conflicts between characters in
a tragedy
d) The moral lesson or message of a tragedy
Answer: b) The purification or purgation of emotions through art
According to Aristotle, what is the role of the tragic hero’s
hamartia?
a) To make the audience empathize with the hero
b) To create tension and suspense in the plot
c) To provide comic relief
d) To bring about the hero’s downfall
Answer: d) To bring about the hero’s downfall
What does Aristotle say about the role of the chorus in tragedy?
a) It is necessary for the play’s structure, but not essential
for the plot
b) It is unnecessary and should be avoided
c) It is an essential part of tragedy and plays an important
role in the plot
d) It is only important in comedy, not tragedy
Answer: c) It is an essential part of tragedy and plays an important
role in the plot
What is the definition of “peripeteia”?
a) The moment of recognition or discovery in a tragedy
b) The reversal of fortune experienced by the tragic hero
c) The moral lesson or message of a tragedy
d) The process of resolving the conflicts between characters in
a tragedy
Answer: b) The reversal of fortune experienced by the tragic hero
According to Aristotle, what is the purpose of tragedy?
a) To entertain the audience with a humorous story
b) To teach the audience a moral lesson
c) To create an emotional response in the audience and help them
experience catharsis
d) To provide a platform for political commentary
Answer: c) To create an emotional response in the audience and help
them experience catharsis
What is Aristotle’s definition of “anagnorisis”?
a) The moment of recognition or discovery in a tragedy
b) The reversal of fortune experienced by the tragic hero
c) The moral lesson or message of a tragedy
d) The process of resolving the conflicts between characters in
a tragedy
Answer: a) The moment of recognition or discovery in a tragedy
What is Aristotle’s definition of “mimesis”?
a) The process of imitation or representation of reality in art
b) The emotional response experienced by the audience at the end
of a tragedy
c) The moral lesson or message of a tragedy
d) The process of resolving the conflicts between characters in
a tragedy
Answer: a) The process of imitation or representation of reality in
art
What does Aristotle say about the role of the tragic hero’s
hubris?
a) It makes the hero more sympathetic to the audience
b) It creates tension and suspense in the plot
c) It brings about the hero’s downfall
d) It is unnecessary and should be avoided
Answer: c) It brings about the hero’s downfall.
Who was Aristotle?
A. A Greek philosopher
B. A Roman emperor
C. A French poet
D. An American scientist
Answer: A
In which century did Aristotle live?
A. 4th century BC
B. 1st century AD
C. 8th century AD
D. 15th century AD
Answer: A
What is Aristotle’s most famous work on literary criticism?
A. The Republic
B. The Iliad
C. The Poetics
D. The Metamorphoses
Write a note on Aristotle’s definition of tragedy.
Ans. Aristotle’s definition of tragedy is
one of the most famous in all of literature. According to him, tragedy is a
form of drama that involves the imitation of serious actions which are
complete, and of a certain magnitude. These actions should evoke pity and fear
in the audience, and ultimately lead to a cathartic experience.
Aristotle believed that a good tragedy must have six key
elements: plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. Of these,
he considered plot to be the most important, because it is the arrangement of
events that creates the dramatic tension that drives the story forward.
Character is also important, because the actions of the characters must be
believable and internally consistent.
In addition, Aristotle believed that tragedy should focus on
noble characters who are faced with a tragic flaw or error in judgment, which
ultimately leads to their downfall. This flaw or error is known as
“hamartia,” and is often related to the character’s pride or hubris.
Aristotle’s definition of tragedy has been influential in
Western literature for centuries, and has been used as a model for many famous
works, including Shakespeare’s plays and modern tragedies such as Arthur
Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.”
