The econtent uploaded on this website is on literary theory and criticism. Reading a defense of poetry into the poetics also has. Available formats pdf please select a format to send. He provided a strong defense of poetry by blowing off platos theory of poetic imitation. Though aristotle does not directly refer to plato, yet much of the poetics is a covert reply to his great master. Aristotle describes and argues for the four causes in his books physics and metaphysics as a part of developing his philosophy of substance. The arts deal with illusion or they are imitation of an imitation. It thus differentiates the fine arts from the other category of arts. Platos severe judgment of art stands out as a challenge not to be overlooked by anyone who attempts a defense of poetry and art in general, while aristotle. Platos objection to poetry and aristotles defence slideshare.
The rhetoric is regarded by most rhetoricians as the most important single work on persuasion ever written. Aristotle is generally credited with developing the basics of the system of rhetoric that thereafter served as its touchstone, influencing the development of rhetorical theory from ancient through modern times. May 08, 2019 aristotle was the pupil of plato, and he was also a greek ancient philosopher. Jan 17, 2018 in aristotle s view, principle of imitation unites poetry with other fine arts and is the common basis of all the fine arts. In the tenth book of the republic, when plato has completed his final burning denunciation of poetry, the false siren, the imitator of things which themselves are shadows, the ally of all that is low and weak in the soul against that which is high and strong, who makes us feed the things we ought to starve and serve the things we ought to rule, he ends with a touch of compunction. Aristotle on poetry and imitation in the opening sentence of the poetics, aristotle tells us that he is going to deal with poetry itself, its kinds and their powers, and so on. Poetic truth, therefore, is higher than historical truth. Plato and aristotle critique poetry and the effect it has on poets and their audiences and society. Dec 16, 2010 what was aristotles reply to platos objection against poetry.
Aristotles defense of poetry against plato essay 1101 words. Definition of poetry poetry is any kind of verbal or written language that is structured rhythmically and is meant to tell a story, or express any kind of emotion, idea, or state of being. He replied to them one by one in his defence of poetry. How does he show that poetry is not only pleasant, but also useful. It predates his monumental and sadly unfinished sixvolume a history of greek philosophy by more. The defence of poesie sidneys famous essay is said to be a response to an attack on poetry and stage plays, which had been dedicated to him without his permission, by stephen gosson, a former playwright. Aristotles reply to platos objection literary theory.
Or discuss aristotles defence of poetry and poets from the charges made by plato. This etext of philip sidneys defence of poesie is based on the scolar press facsimile of the british. Aristotles defense of fiction by kathy eden introduction reading the poetics in light of aristotle s most complete statements of equity in the nicomachean ethics and the rhetoric, this essay undertakes to demonstrate how and why aristotle develops an art of poetry within the context of a science of ethics. Aristotle s poetics is the most influential book on poetry ever written. David daiches summarizes aristotles views in reply to platos charges in brief. Aristotle replied to the charges made by his guru plato against poetry in particular and art in general. Aristotle saw the poetry as the medium through which catharsis was done. Poetry is a type of literary expression that has lasted the tests of time and will remain a vital art form. Aristotle s theory of imitation plato was the first to use the word in relation with poetry, but aristotle breathed into it a new definite meaning. Another reply, inferior but interesting, had been published by thomas lodge in. Read by robert foster aristotle s poetics from the 4th century b.
He replied to them one by one in defense of poetry by stating. Aristotle aristotle poems poem hunter quotes poetry. Aristotles defense of poetry against plato in the light of literary criticism as literary critics, plato and aristotle have different opinions on poetry and also its social effects. It is said that plato confused study of moralsethics with that of aesthetics. Get an answer for what was platos definition of poetry before aristotle s definition of poetry, and was it influenced by aristotle. Aristotle was the pupil of plato, and he was also a greek ancient philosopher. He has tried to differentiate the two types of drama tragedy and comedy. What was aristotles reply to platos objection against. Defence of poesie ponsonby, 1595 sir philip sidney this.
Get an answer for what was plato s definition of poetry before aristotle s definition of poetry, and was it influenced by aristotle. Aristotle was the great disciple of plato, and it was he who took up the challenge of plato to show that poetry was not only pleasant but also useful for humanity. Plato says that art being the imitation of the actual is removed from the truth. Aristotles defense of fiction volume 38 kathy eden skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites.
Aristotle certainly knew the passage, and it looks as if his treatise on poetry was an answer to platos challenge. Metaphysics, the ethics, the politics and the rhetoric. Aristotle s approach to poetry 25 in other words, it is neither principally a defence of poetry, nor a treatise on how to write it, nor an enunciation of principles of literary criticism, though it has elements. In other words, it is neither principally a defence of poetry. Aristotles poetics is obviously much more than a mere defence of poetry but it does constantly echo platos attack on poetry. Plato judges poetry now from the educational standpoint, now from the philosophical one and then from the ethical one.
Defence of poesie sir philip sidney converted to pdf by r. Before examining the elements of aristotle s definition and locating them within the larger frame of bis ethics and psychology, we should say something about the kind of theory he holds. Jan 12, 2012 aristotles defense of poetry against plato in the light of literary criticism as literary critics, plato and aristotle have different opinions on poetry and also its social effects. A founding text of european aesthetics and literary criticism, it has shaped much of our modern understanding of the creation and impact of imaginative writing, including poetry, drama, and fiction. According to him, poetry is an imitation of an action and his tool of enquiry is neither philosophical nor moral. Greek philosopher who profoundly affected western philosophy through his influence on plato. He gives us the account on how they came into existence. Percy bysshe shelleys essay a defence of poetry has as its main tenet the assertion, summed. Aristotles defense of fiction by kathy eden introduction reading the poetics in light of aristotles most complete statements of equity in the nicomachean ethics and the rhetoric, this essay undertakes to demonstrate how and why aristotle develops an art of poetry within the context of a science of ethics. So poetic imitation is no longer considered mimicry, but is regarded as an act of imaginative creation by which the poet, drawing his material from the phenomenal world, makes something new out of it. Aristotle does this by attempting to explai n poetry through first principles, and by classifying poetry into it s different genres and component parts. In addition to that, we have also studied aristotles defence of poetry and his concept of tragedy. An apology for poetry or, the defence of poesy is a work of literary criticism by elizabethan poet philip sidney. Poetics introduction aristotle s poetics is probably the most important single book that has ever been written about poetry, both for what it says and for what it has been taken to say.
Poetry finds a place in aristotles general scheme of human activity. He examines poetry as a piece of art and not as a book of preaching or teaching. Disscuss percy bysshe shelly s essay a defence of poetry. Aristotle begins by declaring poetics a distinct eld of inquiry methodos. Jul 26, 20 this explain of plato s theory of mimesis and aristotle s defense was very helpful especially with the explanation of aristotle s concept of tragedy. The definitive publisherauthenticated version can be found in classical quarterly 41 1991, 389402. On the art of poetry, by aristotle project gutenberg. Philip sidney in his apology for poetry reacts against the attacks made on poetry by the puritan, stephen gosson. Aristotles poetics aims to give an account of poetry. Poetic form analyzing and interpreting forms to support poetic definition a. Born in athens, the son of sophroniscus, a sculptor, and phaenarete, a midwife. Mainly concerned with tragedy, which was in his day, the most development form of poetry. Jan 03, 2018 literary criticism plato s cave theory by vineet pandey 6 time net 2 jrf 15 set qualified professor duration.
Guthrie, was elected the third laurence professor of ancient philosophy in the university of cambridge. Disagreeing with much else that plato said, aristotle agreed that art was essentially mimesis. Aristotle poems, quotations and biography on aristotle poet page. Aristotle wants to explain why effective poetry has stayed with audiences for so long. Sidney used his defense to claim that poetry has more of.
Write a special not the theory of mimesis presented by aristotle which refutes the charges against poetry made by plato. It is generally believed that he was at least partly motivated by stephen gosson, a former playwright who dedicated his attack on the english stage. This presentation deals with greek philosopher platos objections to poetry and aristotles clarification on the confusion created by plato. What is poetry, how many kinds of it are there, and what are their specific effects. Plato attacked poetry, however, his pupil aristotle defended it by giving contradictory points to his master. On the contrary, aristotle advocated poetry as it is mimetic in nature. Aristotle defines poetry very broadly, including epic poetry, tragedy. First of all, its clear that both men regard poetry as a form of imitation but they approach to imitation from different perspectives. Here, his views share similarities with aristotle, who said that a poet is not only an imitator but also a creator. Aristotle certainly knew the passage, and it looks as if his treatise on poetry was an answer to plato s challenge.
Poetry is used to achieve this artistic expression in several ways. Imitation is natural to man from childhood, one of his advantages over the lower animals being this, that he is the most imitative creature in the world, and learns at first by imitation. Literary criticism of aristotle literary theory and. Or compare and contrast aristotles vies on imitation with plato. But, he maintained, good art was neither useless nor dangerous, but rather natural and beneficial. Platos theory of mimesis and aristotles defence literary. Aristotle nor a treatise on how to write it, nor an. The real and the ideal from aristotles point of view are not opposites. For we shall be gainers, i take it, if this can be proved. Translated by ingram bywater, with a preface by gilbert murray. Platos republic is a work which is not directly about literature. It discusses things like unity of plot, reversal of situation, and character in the context of greek tragedy, comedy and epic poetry.
Aristotle s poetics seeks to address the different kinds of poetry, the structure of a good poem, and the division of a poem into its component parts. The greek philosophers was published in 1950, two years before its author, w. It is the purpose of this paper to show how this definition, which follows the exordium and narration, is arrived at, and how these first two parts, rather than being merely rhetorical embellishments. As the great period of athenian drama drew to an end at the beginning of the 4th century bce, athenian philosophers began to analyze its content and formulate its structure. Poetry is more philosophical, more conducive to understanding than philosophy itself. Aristotle reacts against platonism in all area s of knowle dge. Plato from an idealistic deductive viewpoint depicted in dialogue. Aristotle certainly knew the passage, and it looks as if his treatise on poetry.
Tragedy art gives new knowledge, yields aesthetic satisfaction and produces a better state of mind. Percy bysshe shelley s essay a defence of poetry has as it s main tenet the assertion, summed. Reason and imagination are the two faculties of mind. Reason breaks the things in to parts and analyses it. Thus aristotle successfully and finally refuted the charge of plato and provided a defence of poetry which has ever since been used by lovers of poetry in justification of their muse. Pdf the purpose of aristotles poetics researchgate. To, sidney, poetry is an art of imitation for specific purpose, it is imitated to teach and delight. A complete explanation of any material change will use all four causes. A defence of poetry percy bysshe shelley according to one mode of regarding those two classes of mental action, which are called reason and imagination, the former may be considered as mind contemplating the relations borne by one thought to another, however produced, and the latter, as mind.
Plato and aristotle critique poetry and the effect it has on poets and their. He then turns to a discussion of imitation or representation mimhsij. But this would be a forced and unnatural position to adopt. In other words, it is neither principally a defence of poetry, 86 aristotle nor a treatise on how to write it, nor an enunciation of principles of literary. Aristotle s defense of fiction volume 38 kathy eden. The quest for a poetics of goodness in plato and aristotle. In this way, aristotles poetics is a kind of answer to platos arguments on poetry. Platos valuable contribution to the study of art and literature platos theory of mimesis imitation. The project gutenberg ebook of the poetics, by aristotle this ebook is for the. He claims that there are four causes or explanations needed to explain change in the world. There are certain forms and patterns that poets follow in the composition process of. Thus, aristotle quite successfully refuted the contention of plato. Platos objection to poetry and aristotles defense notes.
It only gives the likeness of a thing in concrete, and the likeness is always less than real. He defines poetry as a medium of imitation that seeks to represent or duplicate life through character, emotion, or action. According to him, poetry is simply a superior means of communication and its value depends on what is communicated. The target learners are graduate and postgraduate students. What was platos definition of poetry before aristotles.
Aristotles reply to platos objection literary theory and criticism. Pdf plato vs aristotle leonard muya and ngigi muya. Dem studentearist graduate schoolcomparative philosophy of education fs 201 slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. As many allegations have been put on poets by plato, aristotle, the disciple of plato comes forward in the defence of the poets. Plato sees imitation as a copying process, thus it is always beyond the truth. Poetics is the first philosophical treatise of dramatic theory written by aristotle the pupil of plato, as a defence on poetry. It was written in approximately 1580 and first published in 1595, after his death. Read all poems of aristotle and infos about aristotle. The very much excessive emotions were washed away through the process and moreover we were fully balanced with the apt amount of emotions which were. The centerpiece of aristotles work is his examination of tragedy. In poetics aristotle presents us a literary criticism by evaluating poetry as a poetry itself. This book has laid the canons for writing the tragedy.
Aristotles theory of poetry and fine art internet archive. He agrees to the fact that art is an imitation of the real world imitated from ideal world which is further imitated from the world of truth. Various factors make it a work singularly easy to misinterpret, and the. Pdf on jan 1, 2015, andrew ford and others published the purpose of aristotles. Disscuss percy bysshe shellys essay a defence of poetry. The universality of poetry in aristotles poetics malcolm heath university of leeds. Book excerpt e of being an old word which is accepted and reinterpreted by aristotle rather than a word freely chosen by him to denote the exact phenomenon he wishes.