Dryden

Dryden's Thinking Activity

1) Do you find any difference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden's definition of Play?

first see both the definition,
Aristotle's definition

"Tragedy, then is an art of imitation of an certain that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude; in the language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament. The several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation catharsis of these and no emotions."

Dryden's definition

"A play ought to be a just and lively image of human nature, representing its passion and humors and the changes of fortune to which it is subjected, for the delight and instruction of mankind"

We can see diffrence from the very starting of the definition, Aristotle starts with word "Tragedy" while wordsworth starts with "The play" which shows that Aristotle only give definition of Tragedies while wordsworth speaks about The Play in general. In Aristotle's definition there is words used like "pity", "fear", "catharsis" this all words shows inaway a delight through sad emotions while wordsworth's definition talk about "Delight" which includes all kind of delight. These are some visible difference in both definition.

2) If you are supposed to give your personal predilection, would you be on the side of the Ancient or the Modern? Please give reasons.

I would rather prefer to go with the moderns, yes ancients are important but it doesn't mean that we stuck to them if we will stuck at one point we will die we have to move on and this is the reason I will go with moderns because they always add something new to the work of ancients and yes moderns are sit on the back of ancients and they can see far because inaway they are at height.