Aristotle’s Concept of Anagnorisis Exemplified in Tagore’s The Wreck

Authors

  • Dr A. Tamilselvi Associate Professor of English, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Keywords:

Anagnorisis, Change, Discovery, Journey, Peripety, Recognition, Wreck

Abstract

Rabindranath Tagore is a prolific writer and multi-faceted genius. The variety and richness of his writings are breathtaking. His works are mines of beauty, wisdom and truth. He is recognized as one of the World’s immortal poets and one of the best writers of all ages. The term anagnorisis stands for the realization of truth, the opening of the eyes, and the sudden lightning in the darkness. From trials and tribulations emerges a new perception, insight, understanding, perhaps even wisdom. It means recognition – a change or a shift that helps a person to come out of ignorance to knowledge. The present paper gives the definition of Aristotle’s concept of anagnorisis and investigates how far this concept of anagnorisis is exemplified by Rabindranath Tagore in his popular novel The Wreck. Aristotle’s concept can be perceived in the title of the novel itself. It is an investigation or the discovery of one’s truth and its relationship with one’s identity. The characters act as change and change agents and suffer only to face a change of fortune. They strive to search the identity through psychological probes and intuitions. The story ends with the discovery of joy which comes after many trials and tribulations when all their problems are solved.

Author Biography

Dr A. Tamilselvi, Associate Professor of English, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Dr A.Tamilselvi is the Associate Dean (Extracurricular activities) and Associate Professor of English at Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, India. She is an energetic challenger, possessing 29 years of progressive experience in teaching and implementing innovative strategies in ELT. She has published 21 research articles on ELT and literature in various journals. She is a BEC Trainer, Ph.D. Supervisor at Anna University, AICTE Nominee and Board of Studies Member. She has received the Best Professor and Researcher Award from ASDF, NFED and JSAER. She can be reached at tamilselvi@tce.edu or at tamilselvieng@gmail.com

References

Anderson, Maxwell, “The Essence of Tragedy,” Aristotle’s ‘Poetics’ and English Literature, ed., Elder Olson. (Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1965). 116.

Aristotle’s Theory of Poetry and Fine Art, trans. and ed., S. H. Butcher, 1894 (New York: Dover, 1911), XI, 2.

James L. Calderwood and Harold E. Toliver, eds., Forms of Drama, (London: Prentice-Hall, 1969), 19.

Lucas, F. L., Tragedy, (New York: First Collier Books, 1962), 99.

Rabindranath Tagore, The Wreck Trans. J.G. Drummond, 1921, rpt. (Madras: Macmillan,1975).

Seshadri, Vijayalakshmi. The New Woman in Indian-English Women Writers, (Delhi: B.R. Publishing Corporation, 1995) 16.

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Published

30-04-2018

How to Cite

Dr A. Tamilselvi. (2018). Aristotle’s Concept of Anagnorisis Exemplified in Tagore’s The Wreck. Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature, 9(2), 38–44. Retrieved from https://journals.eltai.in/index.php/jtrel/article/view/68

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2018): April

Section

Research Articles