Aristotle defines tragedy according to seven characteristics: (1) it is mimetic, (2) it is serious, (3) it tells a full story of an appropriate length, (4) it contains rhythm and harmony, (5) rhythm and harmony occur in different combinations in different parts of the tragedy, (6) it is performed rather than narrated, and (7) it arouses feelings of pity and fear and then purges these feelings through catharsis.

According to Aristotle, Tragedy is the highest poetic form. He defined some parameters and rules to write a tragedy. He laid focus on many aspects of tragedy including, the construction of plot, characteristics of protagonist, Unity of action, unity of time, unity of place, conception of tragic catharsis, poetic truth, and diction.

To establish the basis for a reconciliation between ethical and artistic demands, Aristotle insists that the principal element in the structure of tragedy is not character but plot. Since the erring protagonist is always in at least partial opposition to the state, the importance of tragedy lies not in the character but in the enlightening event.

Every Tragedy, therefore, must have six parts, which parts determine its quality —namely, Plot, Character, Thought, Diction, Spectacle, Song” (Aristotle, 8). He states that tragedy is drama, rather than narrative, showing the possibilities in life by using a cause-and-effect chain. In that sense, the core emotion of tragedy is both pity and fear.