Aristotle's Poetics- Literary Criticism
The Natyashastra Aristotle's Poetics: The Foundational Treatise on Literary Art Introduction: Aristotle (384-322 BCE), the Macedonian philosopher and student of Plato, changed Western thought with his practical approach to knowledge. His Poetics (c. 335 BCE), though partially lost, remains the iconic work of literary theory. Composed as lecture notes, it systematically analyzes poetry (Greek poiΔtikΔ , "making" or "creating"), focusing mainly on tragedy and epic poetry . Aristotle counters Plato’s dismissal of art as morally corrupting by arguing poetry reveals universal truths through structured imitation ( mimesis ), offering intellectual pleasure and emotional catharsis. This newsletter unpacks Aristotle’s technical framework, defining key concepts crucial for understanding narrative art. I. The Core Principle: Mimesis (Imitation) Aristotle defines all poetry as fundamentally mimetic – not mere copying, but a creative representation of ...