StoryTelling:by Aristotle

Summary by Don Marinelli

Plot

Plot refers to the mechanics of storytelling. Plot includes the sequence of comings and goings of character. Plot is the timetable of the plays events. The specific order of quarrels, discoveries, revelations, reversals, and actions that take place on stage. Plot is usually the way we describe the play/story to someone who has not seen it.

Plot as Structure The author selects 1) the conflict, 2) the resolution, and 3) the climax - in that order. Then the author develops the rest of the story The component parts of plot structure are: scenes, incidents, and crises. The order and selection of the above determines the plot structure of the story. Plot is the ordering of emotions. Each scene should advance the plot. Plots are either simple or complex. o Simple plots occur without reversal or a recognition scene. o Complex plots feature a change of fortune brought about by a reversal, or recognition scene, or both. Most plots feature a crisis which, in turn, leads to a climax. A crisis may be emotional or physical; it should not be intellectual. Climax and Resolution are facilitated by: o Reversals - when the opposite of the characters present state occurs (epiphany) o Discovery - the passing from ignorance to knowledge o Recognition - triggered usually by reversal and discovery The Relationship of Plot to Character Aristotle said that men are certain kinds of individuals as a result of their character, but they become happy or miserable as a result of their actions. Drama, therefore, is not a portrayal of character, but rather of action. Consequently, plot (which is action manifest) is more important than character. A character is revealed by what he does and is understood in the context of his/her actions. A character is developed in relation to other characters. He/she must act upon, react to, and in turn be acted upon by others. Character is revealed via encounter, decision, action, and reaction. The most essential character to a plot is the protagonist, a.k.a the hero, or oftentimes today the anti-hero. The second character needed is the antagonist. Antagonists should be strong, because it is against the antagonist that the protagonist (the hero) is measured. There is no heroism in vanquishing a weakling or fool. The third necessary character is the one who helps bring about the climax.

The third character may have a small role, but is the one who makes the objective or proposition of the protagonist important.

Character The characters of a play/story are the human figures - the impersonated presences - who undertake the actions of the plot. These impersonated presences should form whole images, indelibly human, alive with attributes, feelings, and expectations of real people. The fundamental demand of a plays characters is that they make an audience care. Audiences should be able to identify and sympathize with the character. Aristotle said: A character is a collection of qualities. A character therefore is a representation of a person exhibiting certain personality traits. Audiences need to know several aspects of the main character, and they glean this from the characters physical, mental, cultural, and moral attributes. Most importantly, audiences need to know the characters motivations. Is there a logical inevitability to the characters actions. Theme The theme of a play is its abstracted intellectual content (ex: Good vs Evil) Theme may be described as the play or storys overall statement, its topic, central idea, or message. The importance of theme is that the play or story must have something to say, and that something must seem pertinent to the audience Diction Diction relates not only to the pronunciation of spoken dialog, but also to the literary character of a play/storys text. By this is meant its tone, imagery, cadence, and articulation, as well as its use of literary forms and figures, such as verse, rhyme, metaphor, jest, and epigram. Music Ancient Greek drama was performed to music, what would today be considered a soundtrack. The music directly supported the plays diction and theme through the musical rhythm and tone. Spectacle Theatre is as much a visual experience as it is an aural, emotional, or intellectual one. Spectacle encompasses the visual aspects of production: scenery, costumes, lighting, make-up, properties, and the overall look of the production.