Lecture Literary criticism - Lecture 7: Aristotle the poetics chapter 23-24
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ARISTOTLE
THE POETICS
CHAPTER 23-24
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Towards the end Aristotle turns his attention to epic poetry
Mimesis of epic poetry is in verse told in narrative way.
SIMILARITIES B/W EPIC POETRY &
TRAGEDY
(1)
• Epic poetry must maintain the unity of plot
• Epic poetry should focus on a particular story that remains as organic
whole.
• History on the othr hand is going to focus on what happened during a
certain time period or to certain people.
(2)
• Like a tragedy it can be simple or complex.
• It should deal with character or suffering.
• Aside from spectacle and melody the rest of the six components of
tragedy are present.
• It can also feature peripeteia and anagnorisis.
DISSIMILARITIES
(1)
• Epic poetry can be long
• It can hop betweeen events happening at different places at the same
time.
• The plot of epic poetry can be bore expensive because it is not limited
by the stage.
(2)
Epic poetry is narrated in heroic meter whereas tragedy is narrated in
iambic meter
ARISTOTLE PRAISES HOMER
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All his examples of good epic poetry are taken from Homer.
He praises Homer for reducing his own voice in the narrative and telling
the action and character tell the theory.
He uses themes to show how epic poetry can account exaggerated
events in a believable manner.
He also praises Homer as a master of using paralogisms to make lies
seem believable.
DICTION
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He is against the use of elaborate diction while it is pleasing when there
is no action to recount,no character or thought to reveal.
Ornate diction can observe these more important elements when they
are found together.
CHAPTER 25-26
CRITICISM AGAINST POETRY
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A criticism depicted on poetry is that the events depicted are
impossible.It can be categorized as less grave and more grave.
Less grave impossibility arises from a lack of technical knowledge on
part of the poet.
More grave describe the situation of impossibility that arises from the
poet’s inability to give an accurate description of something he knows
quite well.
Aristotle believes that impossible events serve to lighten the
astonishment and excitement of the story,
However if the poets can achieve the same staying within the reaction
of reality than it should be preferred.
Convincing impossibility better than unconvincing possibility.
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Furthermore some poets write things as they ought to be.
Some write to accord themselves with popular opinion.
Other poets stay true to popular myths rather than realism when
depicting the gods.
CONTRADICTION IN THE LANGUAGE
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Which seems difficult to follow because of lack of knowledge of the
language.
Aristotle suggests that what may be at first seem to be a contradiction
in language may result from a metaphorical usage or some other poetic
device.
• There is no excuse for improbable plot and
weak characterization
COMPARISON B/W TRAGEDY AND EPIC
POETRY
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Which is the higher form of art?
The argument in favor of epic poetry is based on the principle that
higher art is less vulgar and dresses towards a finer audience.
Tragedy is performed before large audience which results in
melodramatic performances and overacting to please the crowd.
Epic poetry is more cultivated because it does not rely on gestures at
all to convey its message.
ARISTOTLE DEFENCE OF TRAGEDY
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Melodrama and overacting are faults of the performance.
Not all movement is bad but only poorly executed movements.
Also tragedy does not need to be performed it can be read just like epic
poetry and all its merits will still be evident.
WHY TRAGEDY IS SUPERIOR
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It has all elements of an epic poem and has also music and spectacle
which the epic lacks.
Simply reading the play without performing it is already very potent.
Tragedy is shorter that is more compact concentrated effect.
There is more unity in a tragedy.
