History Literature / Poetics

* AntiHero: The best kind of protagonist for a tragedy, to him--he notes that a story featuring a truly "good" hero going through intense hardship would risk inspiring ''anger'' in the audience, whereas a VillainProtagonist would risk [[DarknessInducedAudienceApathy failing to inspire sympathy]].

* AntiHero: The best kind of protagonist for a tragedy, to him--he notes that a story featuring a truly "good" hero going through intense hardship would risk inspiring ''anger'' in the audience, whereas a VillainProtagonist would risk failing to inspire sympathy.

* RuleOfCool: His explanation for why ''TheOdyssey'' works despite its at times absurd plot points: Homer was just ''that good'' at making you not care, because it's ''awesome''.

* DeusExMachina: Hated it--in fact, condemns Euripides's ''Madea'' for putting the hero into a situation where this is the only means of getaway.

Creator/{{Aristotle}} may not have been the first troper, but he's the first troper for whom we have evidence, [[WroteTheBook and the evidence is this work,]] '''''Poetics''''', the great-grand-daddy of all BooksOnTrope. (Incidentially, ''Poetics'' is [[AncientGrome not the Greek name but the Latin translation.]])

It is based on his analyses of Greek epic poems, such as Homer's works, and of Greek [[{{Tragedy}} tragedies]], [[HaveAGayOldTime a term, which at the time, did not require an unhappy ending]]. Early on in the text, he even promises an in-depth look at {{Comedy}}. Sadly, [[WhatMightHaveBeen that section's long been lost]]--though we ''do'' get a few pointers in the text we have, on his basic thoughts on the genre. Full text [[http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/poetics.1.1.html here]].

It is based on his analyses of Greek epic poems, such as Homer's works, and of Greek [[{{Tragedy}} tragedies]], [[HaveAGayOldTime a term, which at the time, did not require an unhappy ending]]. Early on in the text, he even promises an in-depth look at {{Comedy}}. Sadly, [[WhatMightHaveBeen that section's long been lost]]--though we ''do'' get a few pointers in the text we have, on his basic thoughts on the genre....

Full text [[http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/poetics.1.1.html here]].

* TragicHero

* FatalFlaw

* AcceptableBreaksFromReality

* TwistEnding: The ideal ending: Reversal + [[TheReveal Recognition]].

Creator/{{Aristotle}} may not have been the first troper, but he's the first troper for whom we have evidence, and the evidence is this work, '''''Poetics''''', the great-grand-daddy of all BooksOnTrope. (Incidentially, ''Poetics'' is [[AncientGrome not the Greek name but the Latin translation.]])

* AntiHero: The best kind of protagonist for a tragedy, to him--he notes that a truly "good" hero going through intense hardship would risk inspiring ''anger'' in the audience, whereas a VillainProtagonist would risk failing to inspire sympathy.

* {{Spectacle}}: Aristotle didn't approve much of making this a top priority; he held that spectacle should only help a story tragic in itself.

It is based on his analyses of Greek epic poems, such as Homer's works, and of Greek [[{{Tragedy}} tragedies]], [[HaveAGayOldTime a term, which at the time, did not require an unhappy ending]]. Early on in the text, he even promises an in-depth look at {{Comedy}}. Sadly, that section's long been lost--though we ''do'' get a few pointers in the text we have, on his basic thoughts on the genre....

It is based on his analyses of Greek epic poems, such as Homer's works, and of Greek [[{{Tragedy}} tragedies]], [[HaveAGayOldTime a term, which at the time, did not require an unhappy ending]].

* CatharsisFactor[[invoked]]: Indeed, the work that defined ''catharsis'' in its modern meaning.

* SpecialEffectsFailure[[invoked]]: Scenes that sound awesome in epic poetry can look ridiculous when performed on a stage.
* {{Spectacle}}: Aristotle didn't approve much of it, either; he held that spectacle should only help a story tragic in itself.

* DeusExMachina

* HappyEnding: Aristotle thought that the best plot for a tragedy was one in which TheReveal caused the hero to realize what he was about to do, and therefore not do it. On the other hand, he thought the worst was one where the character decided not to do an evil deed without TheReveal giving him a motive to do so.

* TheReveal

* EmotionalTorque

* WackyWaysideTribe: Any part of the story that cannot be logically connected to the main action should be avoided.

* CatharsisFactor[[invoked]]: Indeed, the work that defined ''catharsis''

* GreekChorus: Oddly enough, he just referred to it as the chorus.
* RandomEventsPlot

* SpecialEffectsFailure: Scenes that sound awesome in epic poetry can look ridiculous when performed on a stage.

Creator/{{Aristotle}} may not have been the first troper, but he's the first troper for whom we have evidence, and the evidence is this work, '''''Poetics''''', the great-grand-daddy of all BooksOnTrope.

{{Aristotle}} may not have been the first troper, but he's the first troper for whom we have evidence, and the evidence is this work, '''''Poetics''''', the great-grand-daddy of all BooksOnTrope.

* SpecialEffectsFailure: Scenes that sound awesome in epic poetry can ridiculous when performed on a stage.