Final answer:
Aristotle's definition of tragedy in his 'Poetics' describes it as an artful imitation of action designed to evoke pity and fear through a process of catharsis. His analysis emphasizes plot and character, and has greatly influenced the creation of tragic works such as Sophocles' Oedipus Trilogy and Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote, "Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament; in the form of action, not of narrative; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its katharsis of such emotions," is by Aristotle, from his seminal work on dramatic theory titled Poetics. In it, Aristotle describes the elements and characteristics of a tragic play and introduces the concept of catharsis—the emotional purgation that tragedy aims to provoke in the audience. He broke down tragedy into six components: Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, and Song, emphasizing that the plot is the soul of a tragedy and characters serve to support the narrative. The perfect tragedy, according to Aristotle, presents a complex plot and follows a character caught between good and evil, whose misfortune is due to a flaw or error, eliciting pity and fear from the audience.
Aristotle's theory recalibrates how tragedy is perceived and executed, by underlining the importance of the imitation of an action that is not merely a presentation of life but an art form that evokes certain emotions through its intricate structure and storytelling. His influence extends to classic examples like the Oedipus Trilogy by Sophocles or Shakespeare's Hamlet, where protagonists face ethical dilemmas that reveal deep insights into human nature and destiny.