18 Questions
What is the term for the moment in a literary work when the protagonist experiences a sudden realization or discovery about their true identity or situation?
Anagnorisis
In epic literature, what do epic similes primarily involve?
Extended comparisons using 'like' or 'as'
What is the main function of epithets in epic literature?
To provide stock descriptive words and phrases for characters
Which character archetype involves a heroic figure who rescues a damsel in distress?
Knight in Shining Armor
In Aristotle's poetics, what did Thespis, the first actor, exemplify by portraying different characters with masks?
The idea that reality is subjective and based on perception
What aspect of narrative style is emphasized in epic literature through its serious tone and elevated language?
Serious tome and elevated style
What is the term used for the proper purgation of pity and fear through the downfall of the tragic protagonist?
Catharsis
Which characteristic is NOT typically associated with a tragic hero?
Lack of sympathy from the audience
In literature, what term describes the moment when the tragic hero gains self-knowledge through their downfall?
Anagnorisis
Which author is associated with the Gothic literary genre in the 19th century?
Edgar Allan Poe
Which element is commonly found in horror literature as a personification of mortality and inevitability?
The Grim Reaper
Which characteristic is NOT typically associated with a tragic protagonist's fortune in literature?
Unexpected success
What is the term used to describe the shift of the tragic protagonist's fortune from good to bad, as discussed by Aristotle in the Poetics?
Peripeteia
Which term refers to the moment in a story when a character experiences a significant discovery or realization?
Anagnorisis
In Gothic literature of the 19th century, what are the predominant single effects created by the elements of fiction?
Fear and horror
Which setting elements are commonly emphasized in horror literature to create fear and terror?
Time and death motifs
In tragic hero characteristics, what emotion does the tragic hero typically evoke in viewers according to Aristotle?
Sympathy and compassion
Which term describes the concept in formalist criticism where events in a tragedy reverse unexpectedly?
Peripeteia
Study Notes
Tragic Hero
- A noble character with a flaw (hamartia) that leads to their downfall, evoking pity and fear in the audience
- The flaw is a characteristic that ultimately causes the hero's demise
Tragedy (Aristotle)
- An imitation of a serious action, complete in itself, written in an embellished language
- Arousing pity and fear in the viewer, bringing about catharsis (purgation of emotions)
Greek Tragedy
- A serious action with a certain magnitude, complete in itself
- Written in an embellished language, aiming to evoke pity and fear, leading to catharsis
- Examples: Oedipus Rex, Greek Tragedy
Gothic Fiction
- Emerged in the 19th century, characterized by fear, horror, and terror
- Settings: dark, focusing on death, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life
- Characters: mysterious, often wealthy, but unable to escape death
Epic
- An imitation of an action, serious and complete in itself, written in an elevated style
- Centers on the hero's struggle against an obstacle or series of obstacles
- Epic Similes: extended comparisons using "like" or "as"
- Examples: heroic quests, perilous journeys, valorous deeds
Poetics
- Thespis: the first actor to perform around 534 BC, wearing no makeup and no props
- Oedipus Rex: a prime example of a poetics
- Plato: reality is in the mind, and there should be one version of reality
Test your knowledge on Edgar Allan Poe's poetic principles, which involve creating a serious action of certain magnitude in an embellished language to evoke pity and fear. Understand the elements aligned to establish a theme and the concept of catharsis in literature.
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