This blog is part of the thinking activity on the poetics of Aristotle. In this blog I have shared my understanding of the poetics of Aristotle. In the beginning of poetics there was a reader who came across objections of Plato against poets & poetry.
Alfred north whitehead all subsequent philosophy is merely a footnote to Plato.
As per Plato poetry is inspirational and not rational. Poetry written in the state of frenzy, which is not a very good state of mind.it leads to arousal of emotions which is not appropriate and harmful.it includes certain wrong.for example gods are depicted in a derogatory manner. Which does not really inspire the devotees of God. Here the reader can take an example of a famous text of Plato iron. It is also said about hypocrisy. Plato also said that a poet is not a proper person, who can disseminate this type of knowledge. It is dangerous to follow the poet who spread such inaccuracies there by the soul of the period.
So, the reader might have a question about what Plato thinks about the poet?What kind of appropriate action arises from the poet?
So, according to Plato the Poets are imitators, they are possessed, the Poets are liars, to prove his argument he give two reasons
(1)Gods are represented in a false manner.Poets are representing gods as lesser than human beings, light than human beings.
(2)The ultimate real world is an unchanging world,poets bring change in this unchanging world. These actions of Poets are unpardonable for Plato.
Aristotle defence of poets:in the poetics Aristotle argues with Plato, in his argument he defends the Poets.
As per Aristotle poetry is not all about copying it is all about making.the word poet comes from the Greek word poien which means to making.as per Aristotle poetry shows a reality in very useful way.if Plato the Poets that they were reprints wrongly, and this wrong representation is a negative influence. It is also true that poetry represents action, they represent people of animation. Poetry is a kind of universal worthy action also represented in poetry.poetry is not all about to criticise or to satire on someone. It is also dealing with a good man.
Concept of poetry history
Here as an example the readers take examples of poetry and history, as a reader knows that history always deals with the questions of what has been, when poetry represents universals and what should be opposed to be.
Concept of catharsis :
In the poetics by Aristotle he also talks about tragedy and poetry leads the text or poetry towards catharsis
Now readers might have a question: what is catharsis?
So, catharsis does not mean exclusion of imaginative emotions . The catharsis means the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
Catharsis is a very important and final part for Aristotle because by using this concept he can counter argue with his guru Plato.
The importance of plato Aristotle in the tradition of western literary criticism :
Readers might have questioned that in the poetics there are both Plato Aristotle have argued but who is the most important figure in western literary criticism. So in the western literary criticism both have the same importance. Because Plato's argument was socio,philosophical, moral and political discourse. When Aristotle scooped out the literature and put it on a pedestal and showed that literature justified its existence.
So, by reading this description the reader must know that Aristotle is the founder and initiator of the western literary criticism.
Concept of mimesis:
In the poetics there is a new term applied by Aristotle so readers might have a question : what is mimesis ?
A mimesis is a critical and philosophical term that carries a wide range of meanings. Which include imitation,representation
Mimicry, nonsensuous, similarity
The act of presentation and expressions as well.
Mimesis means making leads to the Greek term mathesis,that is understanding, knowing. This term of making and knowing leads us to our understanding. As an example, nowadays the schools give several activities to the children. By that type of activity the person can judge the understanding of students. Likewise the term of mathesis deals with the understanding , knowledge of readers.
What isAristotle point of view about poets?
Plato says that the Poets are liars, but Aristotle defends them and he says that poets are not liars. They can recreate the poems or any other works through perception and intuition of outer reality.
What is tragedy as per Aristotle?
In the poetics by Aristotle he also tries to define the definition of tragedy according to his view point.
Tragedy,” says Aristotle, “is an imitation [mimēsis] of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude…through pity and fear affecting the proper purgation [catharsis] of these emotions.” Ambiguous means may be employed, Aristotle maintains in contrast to Plato, to a virtuous and purifying end.
Importance of plot:
Aristotle argues that, among the six formative elements, the plot is the most important element. ... The plot is the underlying principle of tragedy'. By plot Aristotle means the arrangement of incidents. Incidents mean action, and tragedy is an imitation of actions, both internal and external.
Why is the plot important in the tragedy ?
As Aristotle says that plot is the soul of tragedy so why is plot more important in tragedy than character?
Aristotle says that plot is the structure of the play and around. Which the material parts are laid by the help of plot.here it can be also said that through the story line of or a plot Aristotle can also create a paradox.
Here the plot is important because the man of action presents the soul of a tragedy. Nowadays also the script or we can say the plot of a movie is more important than the character. The script or plot is also important for the writers as well as actors nowadays.so the readers can observe that the plot got more importance than the characters from the time of Aristotle and it remains as important nowadays also.
Concept of tragic hero:
In the poetics Aristotle also tries to define the concept of tragic hero according to his view. So as per Aristotle a tragic hero means hero doesn't know how circumstances slowly see for him how they went against him.
A tragic hero neither out right Saint an utterly hopeless wicked criminal but a representative of human beings in its innovative capacity. A hero tries to become a superhero.
By this point Aristotle made a point again deferring Plato. Here Aristotle argues that being is more important.
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