What are Aristotle’s arguments in favour of tragedy over epic poetry? Do you think they are convincing? [NU-‘16,‘18]

What are Aristotle’s arguments in favour of tragedy over epic poetry? Do you think they are convincing?[NU-‘16,‘18]        

Aristotle discusses the three distinct forms of poetry –tragedy, epic and comedy in his famous critical work ‘Poetics’. He not only discusses them but also makes differences among them in a logical manner. He draws some arguments in favour of tragedy over epic poetry.

Aristotle says:

“Tragedythenisarepresentation of an action that is worth serious attention, complete in itself, and of some amplitude;.....by means of pity and fear, bringing about purgation of such emotions.”

Though, epic and tragedy represent serious actions of serious subjects and deal with characters of the higher type than the average, tragedy has special kind of pleasure.Moreover, tragedy doesn’t end in total gloom. It arouses pity and fear in the spectators.On the other hand,according to him,epic is:“The art of representation in the form of narrative verse; clearly it’s plot should be dramatically constructed, like those of tragedies.”Another difference between the two forms is that, tragedy uses the dramatic mode and the epic uses the mode of the narrative.Besides, tragedy contains two more formative elements than epic. There are six formative elements in tragedy:(i) plot, (ii) character, (iii) thought, (iv) diction, (v) spectacle and (vi)song. It’s noteworthy that, spectacle and song are absent in epic. In this sense, tragedy is superior to epic as tragedy has all the elements.Moreover, tragedy uses different meters in different parts while epic can use only one meter –the heroic. Epic and tragedy also differ from each other by comparison of length.The time of epic is not fixed. Hesays:“Whereas the epic observes no limits in its time of action.”But tragedy isdifferent. He says:“Tragedy tries as far as possible to keep within a single revolving of the sun, or only slightly to exceed it.”Again, epic is free from the effect of vulgaritywhiletragedy is vulgar.In this sense, tragedy is more effective and concise.In fine, we may say, Aristotle successfully draws a clear comparison between epic and tragedy. For some special qualities, tragedy is superior andmoreacceptablethan epic.That’s why he argues in favour of tragedy over epic poetry