Description
One of the earliest surviving works on dramatic and literary theory, Aristotle’s Poetics is a detailed account of poetic art. Aristotle further classifies it into verse drama, lyric poetry, and epic poetry. Poetics begins with a defense of poetry as opposed to Plato’s criticism of it. Aristotle argues that the mimetic nature of poetry does not make it irrational or incapable of portraying the truth, as Plato suggests. Instead, he sees poetry as a means to improve the existing society, thereby making poets both imitators and creators.
However, the main area of discussion in Aristotle’s Poetics is concerned with Drama and, in extension, Tragedy. While Aristotle discusses Comedy as a relevant genre of verse drama, he places Tragedy at a higher pedestal, even higher than Epic Poetry. The main role of Tragedy, he suggests, is to purge the spectators through catharsis or tragic pleasure by producing a feeling of fear and pity in the spectators. Aristotle gives a detailed explanation of the different elements of a Tragedy that are crucial for catharsis.
Poetics is a detailed account of literary theory that is still used as a crucial reference for modern-day poetry and drama.
Author's Description
Aristotle (384 – 322 bce)
Born in Stagira, in Greece, in 384 bce, Aristotle was a Classical Greek philosopher who wrote on multiple subjects, including and not limited to psychology, politics, ethics, economics, biology, music, theatre, government, and logic. Once in a hierarchy of famous philosophers, he was Plato's student, who was in turn a student of Socrates. Aristotle turned out to be one of the finest scholars of his time and his thoughts and treatises have had a profound effect on scholars ever since. His influence led him to be enlisted by the then king of Macedonia, Philip II, to tutor his son, Alexander, who would go on to become one of the greatest kings and conquerors of all time.
Although not all of Aristotle's philosophies and doctrines have survived criticism down the centuries, it must be said that he was a trailblazer in his own right. A polymath who could hold a conversation or debate on any topic, Aristotle's influence is such that his ways of thinking are still implemented in one form or the other to this day. He has been depicted in multiple artworks across the millennia, and is without a doubt one of the cornerstones of philosophy as a discipline.
Country Of Origin :- India
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