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A Literary Analysis Of Hamlet's Plot And Tragic Hero

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Q:-Critically analyze the structure of the plot and the tragic hero of Hamlet or Macbeth according to Aristotle’s Poetics
Aristotle defined tragedy as:- “the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language...in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.” (Aristotle Poetics Ch.6) …show more content…

A tragedy consists of following 6 formative elements: - 1-Plot
2-Character
3-Thought 4-Diction 5-Spectacle 6-Song
Critical Analysis of Hamlet’s Plot and Tragic …show more content…

Aristotle believed that there should be unity of plot in a play meaning no sub plots should be found but in Hamlet we observe that many sub plots take place these sub plots are necessary in creating the effect of tragedy if we remove them than the play will move in a straight manner towards the end but it won’t have the same effect on the audience. Shakespeare also completely disregards the use of unity of place as it shift from the palace to the outside of Denmark and then to Norway. Shakespeare also does not make use of the unity of time. Aristotle believed that there should be a proper beginning, middle and ending with in the play. The introduction of the ghost and Horatio informing Hamlet about it is the beginning of the plot. Hamlet killing Claudius and getting revenge is the ending of the play. Shakespeare made use of Aristotle’s concept of Magnitude with in the

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