Distinguish between tragic and epic poetry.
The epic differs from tragedy. Aristotle says " They differ, in that epic poetry admits but one kind of metre, and is narrative in form. They differ, again in their length; for tragedy endeavours, as far as possible, to confine itself to a single revolution of the sun, or but slightly to exceed that limit, whereas the epic action has no limits of time.
This, then, is the second point of difference: though at first the same freedom was admitted in tragedy as in epic poetry of their constituent parts some are common to both, some peculiar to tragedy. Whoever, therefore, knows what is good or bad in tragedy knows also about epic poetry; for all the elements of an epic poem are found in tragedy but the elements of the tragedy are not all found in the epic poem.
The differences between tragedy and epic as given by Aristotle can be reproduced as follows -
1. The origins of tragedy and epic -
According to Aristotle, ' lampoons developed satiric poetry and ' hymns ' developed Heroic poetry or epic. Out of heroic poetry developed tragedy. On the contrary, out of satiric poetry the epic. came the comedy. As tragedy is a later development, it is a higher kind than
2. Length -
Another point of difference between tragedy and epic lies in the matter of their length. Epic is greater in length than tragedy. Tragedy has a time limit, while the epic has no restriction of time. Tragedy must have the unity of place too. While the episodes in tragedy are short, in the epic they are dull and give variety to the story. very long. The introduction of such episodes relieves the poem of monotony
3. Metre -
Tragedy can have a variety of metres, but the epic is confined only to one metre, i.e. the hexametre. Aristotle states that hexametre is " the stateliest and most dignified of measures " and abounds in strange words and metaphors. In tragedy, on the other hand, measures of a more stirring kind were suitable namely, the iambic and the trochaic tetrameter.
4. Subject -
matter - Epic relates an action concerning the fortunes or destiny of a nation or people, and thereby it presents the life of an entire period. In tragedy, on the other hand, the emphasis is on an individual, his idiosyncrasy and behaviour.
As the emphasis, in epic, shifts from the individual to the society, greater issues are necessarily involved. And these issues merely have literary value. transform the very nature of epic to such an extent that it ceases to have a
5. The marvellous and the irrational -
In tragedy, it is necessary to reduce the element of the irritational to the minimum possible degree. But in the epic, the tales of an improbable and marvellous kind supply in a greater degree than element of wonder which is the legitimate source of artistic pleasure.
6. Plot
The epic is in the form of narration, while action constitutes the form of tragedy. The plot of an epic is a story of suffering and it may be simple or complex. But it must have unity. It admits a treatment of things on a grander and more impressive scale.
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| difference between tragedy and epic according to Aristotle |
It can admit many episodes only because they can bridge the pauses in action or because they can bring a diversion to the reader or listener with many episodes, the epic naturally has a slow movement. Though it manages to retain its essential unity, it has in it the plots of many tragedies. The multiple stories are quite good for an epic, but not for a tragedy. The epic is the story of the past, while the drama is a representation of a story in the present.
Similarities between tragedy and epic -
Besides the differences, there are similarities between the Tragedy and the Epic as well. These can be discussed as follows :
1. Similar forms -
According to Aristotle, tragedy and epic have the same forms. Epic can be complex. It can emphasise character or suffering. However, the epic lacks one part found in tragedy and it is the spectacle. Thought and diction are important to both the tragedy and the epic. The plot of epic like that of tragedy can be simple or complex.
The Iliad has a simple plot and it is the epic of suffering. However, the Odyssey has a complex, plot and is the epic of character. Aristotle further says that Homer, the writer of the above epics outstrips all others in diction and thought. Aristotle also stresses the fact that both tragedy and epic have the unity of plot. Their plots have a beginning, middle and end. Their plots thus have wholeness.
2. Other Similarities -
Apart from the similarity of the unity of form or plot, there are a few other similarities between the tragedy and the epic. First, there are as many kinds of epic as there are of tragedy. Like a tragedy, the epic may be simple or complex. It may also be ethical or pathetic.
Secondly, the parts of an epic poem are also the same except for song and spectacle which are found in a tragic drama but not in an epic poem. Thirdly, the epic, like the tragic drama, requires reversals of the situation, recognitions and scenes of suffering. Fourthly, like tragedy, the epic too must have artistic Diction and thoughts.
In all these respects, Homer is the earliest and most satisfactory model. Each of his epics has a two-fold character. The Iliad is at once simple and pathetic, while the Odyssey is at once complex and ethical. Moreover, both of the epics are supreme in respect of diction and thought. The tragedy is superior to epic - After comparing epic with tragedy, Aristotle asserts that tragedy is superior to epic. Aristotle sets a high value on tragedy.
He develops this point in chapter XXVI of Poetics. In his words, " If the more refined art is the higher and the more refined in every case is that which appeals to the better sort of audience. the art which imitates anything and everything is manifestly most unrefined. Tragic art stands to epic in the same relation as the younger to the older actors.
So we are told that epic poetry is addressed to a cultivated audience, who does not need gestures; a tragedy to an inferior public. Being then unrefined, it is evidently lower of the two. A tragedy like epic poetry produced its effect even without action; it reveals its power by mere reading. Then in all other respects, it ( tragedy ) is superior if this fault is not inherent in it. "
Tragedy is superior to epic because besides having all the constituent parts of epic it has got two more the song and spectacle which give rise to the most vivid of pleasures. Tragedy has greater unity of effect for the concentrated effect is more pleasurable than that which is spread over a long time and so diluted perfectly than epic poetry.
The reasons are given below. Tragedy, therefore, is superior to epic poetry, as tragedy attains its end mon First, according to Aristotle, tragedy is superior to the epic because the former is more refined than the latter. Secondly, it is wrong to say that tragic drama is inferior to epic as the performance of a play on the stage is accompanied by all sorts of gestures. But Aristotle comments that this view is wrong.
Gesticulation may be overdone in epic recitation as in a dramatic performance. Besides, all gesticulation is not to be condemned. Only the gesticulation which is clumsy and reckless is to be censured. Thirdly, tragedy is superior to the epic as it has all the epic elements while the epic does not have all the elements of the tragedy. Tragedy may even employ the epic metre.
It also has the additional attraction of song and spectacular effects which create pleasure. Fourthly, tragedy has a dual use a function. It produces a vividness of impression by reading as well as by its stage performance. Fifthly, tragedy attains its end within narrower limits. So the concentrated effect is more pleasurable than one which is spread over a long time and is thus diluted.
For instance, if Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus had been cast into a form as long as Homer's epic, the Iliad, its effect would greatly have been undermined. Finally, the epic imitation has less unity. Any epic can furnish objects for more than two tragic plays. Thus, the above discussion shows that in his Poetics, Aristotle compares and contrasts tragedy with the epic. He prefers the tragic play to the epic poem. He shows its superiority to the epic.
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