Question

Which of the following elements of drama was termed as mythos by Aristotle ?

• A. Character
• B. Fundamental unities of time, place and action
• C. Plot
• D. Protagonist

Hint:

To remember Aristotle's most important element, associate Mythos with "myth" or "story." The plot is the story or the structure of the action, which Aristotle considered fundamental to tragedy.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question requires identifying the element of drama that Aristotle termed 'mythos' in his work, Poetics.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Aristotle, in Poetics, outlined six key elements of tragedy, ranked by importance:
\begin{enumerate} \item Plot (Mythos): The arrangement of events, considered the "soul of tragedy." \item Character (Ethos): The moral attributes of the characters. \item Thought (Dianoia): The themes and arguments conveyed by the characters. \item Diction (Lexis): The language and its delivery. \item Song (Melos): The chorus's musical component. \item Spectacle (Opsis): The visual aspects of the production.\end{enumerate}Thus, 'mythos' directly corresponds to Plot. The "unities of time, place, and action" are a later interpretation, not original Aristotelian elements.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Option (C) is correct.