Classical Poetics

Description

In Aristotle’s Poetics, we study the art of “imitation”, especially in the form of plays and poetry. Aristotle believed that stories should have a certain structure and should follow certain rules in order to be effective. He believed that the main goal of a story should be to produce an emotional response in the audience, and that this can be achieved through the use of characters, plot, and language.

Aristotle also talked about the different types of characters that can be used in a story, and how they should be developed throughout the plot. He said that there should be a clear distinction between good characters and bad characters, and that the actions of these characters should drive the story forward.

In terms of plot, Aristotle said that a good story should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, and that there should be a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the events in the story. He also said that stories should have a sense of unity, meaning that all of the events should fit together and make sense in the context of the story as a whole.

Overall, Aristotle’s Poetics is an important work for anyone who wants to understand the art of imitating reality. It provides a framework for thinking about what makes a good story and how to create one, and its ideas are still used and discussed by writers, directors, and other storytellers today.