Aristotle on the art of poetry

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Aristotle, 385 BCE-323 BCE

Contributor:

Murray, Gilbert, 1866-1957

Bywater, Ingram, 1840-1914

Standardized Title:

Poetics. English

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"On the Art of Poetry" by Aristotle is a foundational work on literary theory and criticism written in the 4th century BC. This treatise explores the principles of poetry and drama, focusing specifically on genres such as tragedy and epic, and analyzes the structure, characters, and emotional impact of these forms. Aristotle aims to define poetry's nature and purpose, discussing concepts like imitation and catharsis, thus laying the groundwork for future literary analysis. The opening of the text presents an overview of poetry's various forms and characteristics, highlighting the differences among tragic, epic, and comic poetry. Aristotle asserts that all these forms are modes of imitation, varying in their subjects and methods. He emphasizes the importance of plot construction, character development, and the emotional engagement of the audience through eliciting pity and fear. The text argues for the significance of unity in a narrative and outlines the essentials for a well-crafted tragedy, preparing the reader for a deeper exploration of the elements that make literary works successful and impactful. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Eric Eldred, and David Widger

Notes:

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetics_(Aristotle)

Reading ease score: 60.6 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Release date is 2004-10-01