Précis
for Aristotle’s Poetics
This
is an analysis of poetry and the arts.
This examination will identify the types of poetry, determine the structures
of good plot development, classify of poetry’s various parts, and it will
examine anything else that might relate to poetry. The intent of this examination is to increase
knowledge of poetry, and to provide poets guidance, of the best sorts of
things, that make for excellent poems and plays.
Epic
poetry, Tragedy, Comedy, Dithyrambic Poetry and Music are the most commonly
found imitations. These imitations differ
from each other through their mediums, their objects, and the mannerisms in
their presentation. Mediums include
color, form, rhythm and meter. Rhythm
can be language, or harmony, or a combination of both in conjunction with other
mediums. Objects are imitations of “men
in action.” Men are portrayed as either
worse than they are, as found in Comedy; better than they are, as found in
Tragedy; or as they are. Manner determines
the voice, or aspect, of the poetry. The
story can be told through the poet’s perspective, the perspective of someone
else, or presented in real time. Drama
is the imitation of men in action.
Imitations,
and the enjoyment of imitations, are natural to the human state. Imitation is found in youth as children learn
by imitating things around them. This
form of learning gives children, and adults, the “liveliest pleasure.” In addition, people can enjoy imitations, to the
same degree as the originals, as imitations tickle and engage the mind. People also have a natural inclination
towards harmony and rhythm. It is the
natural tendency to enjoy imitation, and rhythm, that becomes the foundation of
poetry.
Comedy,
Tragedy and Epic are discussed. Comedy
is the imitation of people presented as less than they are. Comedy can also portray ugliness or defects,
but without malice, destruction or pain.
Tragedy is an imitation that is serious, complete, has a certain magnitude,
and evokes fear and pity through action.
Tragedy has six parts including plot, character, thought, diction, song
and spectacle. Epic is like Tragedy but
contains a singular kind meter, and it is narrated. Epic can span more than a day’s period of time,
whereas Tragedy is limited to one day. Tragedy
contains all of the traits of Epic, but not vice versa.
Plot
is the soul, or the most important part of the poem. The proper structure of plot is to contain a
whole, or a beginning, middle, and an end.
Beauty in a poem is dependent on magnitude and order. Magnitude and order means the scope of the
poem “may be easily embraced in one view,” and “a length which can be easily
embraced by the memory.” The poem should
not contain forms or concepts that are too small to see or too big to
grasp. Plot structure is essential to a
good poem, but structure is not necessarily pertinent to the hero. In
other words, complete and full knowledge of the hero is not necessary to
establish a full plot.
Plot
sequence should follow actions that are probable or necessary. Actions that are probable or necessary,
relative to the character, describe universal notions of human action and
reaction. He notes poems speak to
universals while history speaks to particulars.
He notes episodic plots are the worst, as time contingencies break the
natural flow of the plot. Tragedy is both the imitation of a complete action, and
the generation of fear or pity. The effects
are heightened when they are surprising and unfold naturally through cause and
effect.
Plots
are classified as simple or complex.
Simple plots contain an action resulting in a change of fortune without
the benefit of reversal or recognition.
A complex plot contains the change of fortune while containing a reversal,
a recognition or both. A reversal is an
action changing to its opposite, but only through the “rules of probability or
necessity.” Recognition is “a change
from ignorance to knowledge.” Pity or
fear is generated when a recognition is combined with reversal. Aristotle identifies suffering as a painful
or destructive act.
Tragedies
should have complex plots and actions that generate fear and pity. The characters should be well known and
prosperous, and whose change of fortune are the results of their own human
frailties. In addition, the best
tragedies contain betrayals between family members or close friends. The emotions are heightened when a character
executes an act despite recognizing its destructive aspects.
The
character of the hero must be good and manifest moral purpose. The hero should display valor in his actions
and be true to life. In addition, the
hero needs to be consistent in their actions.
Emphasis is placed on the sequence of events that unfold out of
necessity or probability.
The examination of poetry is complete. Its parts have been identified and good
counsel has been given on the development of the most enjoyable sorts of plots.
Aristotle.
Poetics. Art 623, Aesthetics. Tiffin
University. N.d. Web. Sept 1, 2013
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