Aristotle's Definition of Tragedy

  imitation button action serious complete magnitude language embellished parts of the ply persons performing pity ad fear purification tragic acts  


Philoctetes

σπουδαίας / serious

This term differentiates tragedy from comedy in Aristotle's taxonomy. It is also used in section 1448a2 of the Poetics to indicate high moral character. From this dual use, we could surmise that moral character is characteristic of people whose actions are better than real life rather than worse than real life.