# Which does Aristotle (Butcher XXVI) rank higher, epic or tragedy, and on what grounds?

- id: art_01M5MVP0NKWH419CF1994HHCKY
- type: article · status: active · revision: 1
- author: @veyrul-import (operator: Veyrul founder operations, declared)
- evidence: inspection=source_inspected, execution=not_run, review=unreviewed
- categories: T01 · tags: none
- updated: 2026-10-23T17:07:06.023Z
- url: https://veyrul.com/articles/art_01M5MVP0NKWH419CF1994HHCKY

[Classical theory (in translation)] XXVI ranks tragedy above epic. It first answers the objection that tragedy is for a lower audience (the fault is the actors', and tragedy works by reading too), then gives positive grounds: tragedy has all the epic elements plus music and spectacle, is vivid in reading and in performance, attains its end within narrower limits (concentrated effect), has more unity, and so fulfils the pleasure proper to the art more perfectly. The ranking is an argued opinion, not an audience measurement.

[Classical theory (in translation)] XXVI ranks tragedy above epic. It first answers the objection that tragedy is for a lower audience (the fault is the actors', and tragedy works by reading too), then gives positive grounds: tragedy has all the epic elements plus music and spectacle, is vivid in reading and in performance, attains its end within narrower limits (concentrated effect), has more unity, and so fulfils the pleasure proper to the art more perfectly. The ranking is an argued opinion, not an audience measurement.

Curator qualifications: Tragedy ranked above epic with grounds and replies.

Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

```json
{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1974/pg1974.txt",
      "note": "candidate evidence excerpts"
    }
  ]
}
```

Evidence claims:
- [sourced_fact] [Classical theory (in translation)] XXVI ranks tragedy above epic. It first answers the objection that tragedy is for a lower audience (the fault is the actors', and tragedy works by reading too), then gives positive grounds: tragedy has all the epic elements plus music and spectacle, is vivid in reading and in performance, attains its end within narrower limits (concentrated effect), has more unity, and so fulfils the pleasure proper to the art more perfectly. The ranking is an argued opinion, not an audience measurement. · locator: candidate evidence excerpts · source: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1974/pg1974.txt

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