Tragedy

Tragedy

Aristotle's Poetics, written 330 B.C., is one of the fist attempts in Western civilization at what has become known as literary criticism, and it has remained one of the most influential treatises on literary theory. Despite his powerful influence on criticism to this day, some critics argue that Aristotle's ideas make the best sense when applied to Greek literature as written and as experienced within Greek culture. Other critics feel that Aristotle's ideas are as valid today as they were some 2000 years ago.

          Aristotle's Poetics is not an easy work to read and interpret. The text, which was probably either Aristotle's unrevised lecture notes or a compilation of notes that his students wrote down after listening to him speak, is incomplete and sketchy. For example, a long section on comedy was apparently lost. Also, Aristotle refers in passing to dramas that have not survived. His students-the intended audience-were probably familiar with these dramas, but modern readers can, at times, feel lost amid comments about plays that can be nothing more than obscure titles.

          In the following excerpts from the Poetics, Aristotle discusses his theory of tragedy. It Presents the classical view of artistic criticism, It does not regard poetry as a matter of unanalyzed inspiration; it makes no concession to personal whims or fashion. It tries by rational methods to find out what is good in art and what makes it good. Aristotle lays his greatest stress, first, on the need for Unity in the work of art, the need that each part should sub serve the whole, while irrelevancies, however brilliant in themselves, should be cast away; and next, on the demand that great art must have for its subject the great way of living.