Question

What are the five key elements of a drama, as defined by Aristotle.

Answer 1

Strictly speaking, in the Poetics Aristotle names six parts of a tragedy. Many summaries, however, treat five as the key literary elements by leaving out spectacle (which Aristotle himself calls the least artistic). Here are both ways:

Aristotle’s six parts
1. Plot (mythos) — the arrangement of incidents; the structure of action and its causal/temporal ordering.
2. Character (ethos) — the moral qualities and dispositions of the agents who carry out the action.
3. Thought/Theme (dianoia) — the ideas, arguments, and themes expressed by the characters; what the play says.
4. Diction (lexis) — the choice of words, style, and expression (dialogue, rhetorical devices).
5. Melody/Music (melos) — the musical element or chorus/song that accompanies the drama.
6. Spectacle (opsis) — the visual elements (scenery, costumes, special effects); Aristotle regards this as least tied to poetic craft.

If you want the five-element version commonly taught, people usually drop spectacle and list: plot, character, thought (theme), diction, and melody (music).