Title: Poetics
Author: Aristotle
First published January 1, 336
62 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780140446364 (ISBN10: 0140446362)
Rating: 3.83
Overview
Aristotle’s Poetics explores the essence of tragedy and its ability to evoke emotions of pity and fear in its audience. Through an analysis of plot, character, language, and spectacle, Aristotle delves into the nature of imitation, error, and purification in tragedy.
Using examples from the works of renowned Greek playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, The Poetics introduces fundamental concepts that have influenced literary criticism for centuries. Aristotle explains how the most effective tragedies center on characters of heroic stature, who are both idealized and true to life.
This classic work of criticism continues to inform our understanding of drama today. Malcolm Heath’s clear English translation and extended introduction make the Poetics accessible to modern readers, providing a valuable resource for anyone interested in the art of storytelling.
About the Author
Aristotle is widely regarded as one of the greatest philosophers in history, alongside his peer, Plato. His philosophical works have influenced thinkers from Late Antiquity to the Renaissance, and continue to be studied today with great interest.
Aristotle was a prolific researcher and writer, producing a vast body of work that may have included up to two hundred treatises, thirty-one of which survive today. His writings cover a wide range of subjects, from logic and metaphysics to ethics, politics, aesthetics, and biology.
His theories have provoked debate and inspired readers for centuries.
Because of the breadth of his work and the time that has passed since he lived, Aristotle’s philosophy is not easily summarized. Over the course of two millennia, philosophers from many different traditions have interpreted and appropriated his texts and ideas, leading to controversies over their meaning.
This site approaches the subject in three tiers. First, this entry provides a brief overview of Aristotle’s life and his most important philosophical contributions, highlighting his unique methods and influential achievements.
Second, the General Topics section offers more detailed introductions to the major areas of his philosophical activity. Finally, the Special Topics section delves into specific issues that have been the focus of recent Aristotelian scholarship.
Editoral Review
Poetics by Aristotle: A Classic Treatise on the Art of Poetry
Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, is known for his contributions to the fields of logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, and biology, but he also had a keen interest in the art of poetry. His work ‘Poetics’, first published in 336 BCE, is a classic treatise that explores the nature, elements, and forms of poetry, with a focus on tragedy and epic.
This work has been influential in the development of literary theory, criticism, and aesthetics, and has earned a place among the great works of Western literature. In ‘Poetics’, Aristotle offers a systematic analysis of poetry, based on his observations of the Greek literary tradition and his own philosophical principles.
He defines poetry as an imitation of human action, character, and emotion, expressed through language and rhythm, and examines the different parts of a poem, such as plot, character, thought, diction, and spectacle. He also discusses the qualities of a good tragedy, such as unity of plot, complexity of character, and catharsis, and compares tragedy with other literary genres, such as comedy and epic.
While ‘Poetics’ may seem like a dry and technical work, it is actually a fascinating and illuminating study of the art of poetry, and its relevance to human experience. Aristotle’s insights on the human psyche, morality, and society, as reflected in literature, are still relevant today, and can enrich our understanding of ourselves and our world.
However, as a book reviewer, I must acknowledge that ‘Poetics’ is not an easy read, and may require some familiarity with ancient Greek culture and language. It is also a bit repetitive and abstract, lacking concrete examples and illustrations.
Moreover, some of Aristotle’s concepts and judgments may seem outdated, controversial, or even problematic, such as his views on women, slaves, and non-Greek literature. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend ‘Poetics’ to anyone who is interested in literature, philosophy, history, or culture.
It is a valuable source of ideas and inspiration, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry to move, enlighten, and entertain us. I would give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on its intellectual depth, originality, and influence, but also its complexity, obscurity, and limitations.
