21 March, 2013
Aristotle's Poetics I
In this part of the Poetics, Aristotle begins by defining what poetry is. He notes that there are four genres of poetry that may be written in three 'styles'. The four genres that Aristotle notes are epic poetry, comedy, tragedy, and Dithyrambs. Each of these can differ however in that they can be expressed through these three ways: the medium, the objects, or the mode of imitation. These make up what poetry is, and how it can be expressed as an art form. Another aspect of poetry Aristotle speaks of is the importance of both metre and 'harmony' in poetry. Through imitation it is important to add rhythm and metre, otherwise it cannot be considered poetry. All art however also contains elements of tune, rhythm, and metre, or else all its structure is ambiguously messy.
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The four types of poetic imitation that Aristotle describes (Epic poetry, Tragedy, Comedy and Dithyramb) differ from one another in three ways: the medium, the objects and the manner or mode of imitation.
ReplyDeleteNote also Aristotle's scientific mode of inquiry and methodology. He is classifying poetry into its general category: imitation, and then differentiating the various types of imitation which differ from one another in their medium, object and manner, in an attempt to define the "essential quality" of each kind of poetry. Aristotle is all about essential definitions!!