The benefit of a tragedy, according to Aristotle, is to:
A) purge the audience of unrealistic expectations.
B) purge the audience of harmful emotions.
C) put the audience's own troubles in proper perspective.
D) arouse in the audience the emotions of joy and relief.
E) allow members of the audience to understand the suffering of others.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Aristotle, the benefit of a tragedy is to purge the audience of harmful emotions, such as pity and fear, through experiencing them vicariously through the characters in the play. This catharsis, or emotional cleansing, is believed to have a therapeutic effect on the audience.

The Benefit of a Tragedy, According to Aristotle, Is To