Final answer:
Aristophanes' 'The Birds' incorporates fantasy through its exaggerated costuming, whimsical setting, human-like bird characters, and surreal plot of creating a city in the sky. These elements come together to create a comedic spectacle that delights in its own imaginative potential, honoring the literary traditions discussed in Aristotle's 'The Poetics.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The play The Birds by Aristophanes is a rich tapestry of fantasy that allows the audience to transcend the boundaries of the ordinary world. This element of fantasy is particularly evident in aspects such as costuming, dramatic setting, characterization, and plot. To begin with, the costumes in The Birds are essential in bringing the avian characters to life, often being exaggerated interpretations of actual bird features, which establishes the whimsical nature of the play. The dramatic setting, which takes place in a fantastical bird city, further accentuates the immersion into a world governed by peculiar rules and logic. Characterization is key, as the birds are endowed with human traits, conversing and behaving like the citizens of a parallel utopian world. Lastly, the plot of establishing a city in the sky reflects mankind's age-old dream of flight and serves as a narrative driven by fantasy; it’s a surreal adventure that weaves together themes of power, identity, and escapism.
In accordance with Aristotle's ideas detailed in The Poetics, The Birds still offers spectacle and entertainment, even though it diverges from the tragic form that Aristotle considered to be truly educational. Aristophanes uses the elements of theatre, namely Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, and Song, to create a comedic work that, instead of focusing on the tragic human conditions, celebrates the vivacity and imaginative potential of theatrical expression.