Editing Playwright (section)

===Aristotle's ''Poetics'' techniques===
In the 4th century BCE, [[Aristotle]] wrote his ''[[Poetics (Aristotle)|Poetics]]'', in which he analyzed the principle of action or ''praxis'' as the basis for tragedy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Aristotle |title=Poetics |publisher=Macmillan |year=1902 |edition=3rd |pages=45 |translator-last=Butcher |translator-first=S.H.}}</ref> He then considered elements of drama: [[Plot (narrative)|plot]] (''{{Lang|el|μύθος|italic=no}} {{Lang|el-latn|mythos}}''), character (''{{Lang|el|ἔθος|italic=no}} {{Lang|el-latn|[[ethos]]}}''), thought (''{{Lang|el-latn|[[dianoia]]}}''), diction (''{{Lang|el-latn|[[Lexis (Aristotle)|lexis]]}}''), music (''{{Lang|el-latn|[[Melody|melodia]]}}''), and spectacle (''{{Lang|el-latn|opsis}}''). Since the [[Mythology|myths]] on which [[Greek tragedy]] were based were widely known, plot had to do with the arrangement and selection of existing material.<ref name=":0" /> Character was determined by choice and by action. Tragedy is [[mimesis]] — "the imitation of an action that is serious". He developed his notion of [[hamartia]], or tragic flaw, an error in judgment by the main character or [[protagonist]], which provides the basis for the "conflict-driven" play.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:William Shakespeare by John Taylor, edited.jpg|thumb|{{nowraplinks|The [[Chandos portrait]], likely depicting Shakespeare, {{circa|1611}}}}]]