Attributes of a Good Play

The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that good plays are "an imitation of an action that is serious,
complete and of a certain magnitude, (…) in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear
effecting the proper purgation of these emotions.

“ Tragedy advanced by slow degrees; each new element that showed itself was in turn developed.
Having passed through many changes, it found its natural form, and there it stopped.
Aeschylus first introduced a second actor; he diminished the importance of the Chorus, and assigned
the leading part to the dialogue. Sophocles raised the number of actors to three, and added scene-
painting. Moreover, it was not till late that the short plot was discarded for one of greater compass, and
the grotesque diction of the earlier satyric form for the stately manner of Tragedy.”

In his 335 B.C. work, "Poetics," Aristotle defines the six characteristics of a good play as Plot,
Characters, Thought, Diction, Spectacle and Melody.

Plot - The plot is an arrangement of events that forms the structure of the play. The play's structure
must include a beginning, middle and an ending. Events should unfold logically and the playwright
should avoid coincidence and resolutions that depend on intervention from forces outside the interior
reality of the play.

Characters - Characters in a play should be true to their nature, social class and role. Characters should
have flaws, but have an air of dignity. The characters' function is to support the plot through the choices
made which spawn a chain of events that move the story to its conclusion. Since the objects of imitation
are men in action, and these men must be either of a higher or a lower type (for moral character mainly
answers to these divisions, goodness and badness being the distinguishing marks of moral differences),
it follows that we must represent men either as better than in real life, or as worse, or as they are.
Comedy aims at representing men as worse, Tragedy as better than in actual life.

Thought - Thought refers to moments in a play where a character's true nature is revealed and the
themes of the play are articulated.

Diction - Diction refers to the playwright's elevated use of language and command of metaphor.

Spectacle - “Now as tragic imitation implies persons acting, it necessarily follows in the first place, that
Spectacular equipment will be a part of Tragedy”. Although Aristotle considered spectacle to be the
least important element in a play, he understood that a spectacular or dramatic effect could engage the
audience on an emotional level.

Song - Song refers to the chorus. Classical plays in ancient Greece and Rome included a choral element
--- a group that spoke or sang in unison during interludes in the play. The role of the chorus was to serve
as another character in the play, to comment on the action and contribute to the unity of the plot.
Modern plays generally do not have this element.