The Epic of Forrest Gump: Winston Groom

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Recommended: Comparison between tragedy and comedy

“Epic[s] and Tragedy, Comedy also […], are all in [a] general conception modes of imitation. They differ, however, from one another in three respects- the medium, the objects, the manner or mode of imitation, being in each case distinct” (Poetics, Section 1 Part I). Life is simulated by the interpretations that each genre of poetry evokes its properties of presentation. Aristotle a 4th century Greek philosopher, categorized tragedy into elements of: Plot, Character, Thought, Diction, Melody, and Spectacle. Aristotle is correct with the typical piece of a tragedy; however in the previous statement his closed design does not fit every work. Forrest Gump is an epic drama romantic-comedy film; an adaptation from Winston Groom’s novel is an example of how Aristotle’s design does not fit completely. Forrest Gump is a story of a simpleton who is able to accomplish great achievements by just being himself. According to Aristotle, Epics duplicates the noble men like in tragedies, but in several instances. Tragedy, yet, presents men as righteous or superior standard, and Comedy, represents a low form of person, which is worse than average. Forrest proves but also challenges Aristotle’s representation of excellent tradagy.
Aristotle illustrates that an Epic is, “Owing to the narrative form, many
Events simultaneously transacted can be presented; […] an advantage and one that conduces to grandeur of effect, to diverting the mind of the hearer, and relieving the story with varying episodes” (Poetics, Section 1 Part XXIV). Forrest Gump is not in relation to any single historical event, actually; Forrest is present at nearly every significant event during the 1950’s to 1980’s, obviously not in real life. And it would be considered highly impro...

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...ccessful and in some respect represented Aristotle’s ideals. The plot is complex but has simple Forrest contradicts Aristotle, so certainly would not fit the typical format of his ideal framework of any epic or tragedy, the film was an combination to be converted into epic tragedy. Nevertheless in personal view the simple complexity of the film is charming, especially among Forrest Gump’s most memorable quotes, “My mama always said life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”(Forrest Gump).

Works Cited
Aristotle. Poetics. Trans. S. H. Butcher. The Internet Classics Archive. Web Atomic and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 13 Sept. 2007. Web. 1 Feb. 2014.
Forrest Gump. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. Paramount Pictures, 1994. DVD.
Sophocles. Oedipus Tyrannus. Eds. Luci Berkowitz, and Theodore F. Brunner. New York: Norton, 1970. 30-77. Print.

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