Aristotle’s Aristotle’s PoeticsPoeticsStudent EditionStudent Edition

Prepared by:Prepared by:Dr. Kay PicartDr. Kay Picart

Assistant Professor of English & Assistant Professor of English & HumanitiesHumanities

Name that Aristotelian TriviaName that Aristotelian Trivia

Name that Aristotelian TriviaName that Aristotelian Trivia

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of poetryCauses of poetry comedycomedy

tragedytragedy tragedytragedy tragedytragedy

Epic poetryEpic poetry ImitationImitation The superior artThe superior art

Kinds of PoetryKinds of Poetry

What are the different kinds of What are the different kinds of poetry, according to Aristotle? poetry, according to Aristotle?

A. Epic proseA. Epic prose B. TragedyB. Tragedy C. HorrorC. Horror D. ComedyD. Comedy E. Dithyrambic PoetryE. Dithyrambic Poetry F. Flute MusicF. Flute Music G. Lyre MusicG. Lyre Music H. Guitar MusicH. Guitar Music I. A – E onlyI. A – E only J. None of the above fits perfectlyJ. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of PoetryCauses of Poetry comedycomedy

tragedytragedy tragedytragedy tragedytragedy

Epic poetryEpic poetry ImitationImitation The superior artThe superior art

Causes of PoetryCauses of Poetry

Which of the following Which of the following statements are true?statements are true?

A. One reason for why we like poetry is because we have an instinct A. One reason for why we like poetry is because we have an instinct for imitation.for imitation.

B. This instinct for imitation is something we share just like, and no B. This instinct for imitation is something we share just like, and no more than, the animals.more than, the animals.

C. There is pleasure and pain in viewing imitations, even if what C. There is pleasure and pain in viewing imitations, even if what they depict is painful or ignoble.they depict is painful or ignoble.

D. The pleasure we get from imitation is the recognition of likeness.D. The pleasure we get from imitation is the recognition of likeness. E. Another reason why we like poetry is because we have an E. Another reason why we like poetry is because we have an

instinct for harmony and rhythm.instinct for harmony and rhythm. F. We possess an instinct for preaching, which makes us like F. We possess an instinct for preaching, which makes us like

poetry.poetry. G. All of the above except B, C, FG. All of the above except B, C, F H. All of the above except FH. All of the above except F

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of poetryCauses of poetry comedycomedy

tragedytragedy tragedytragedy tragedytragedy

Epic PoetryEpic Poetry ImitationImitation The superior artThe superior art

ComedyComedy

Which of the following Which of the following statements is true?statements is true?

A. Comedy is an imitation of “lower” (ludicrous) types.A. Comedy is an imitation of “lower” (ludicrous) types. B. Only comedies use masks.B. Only comedies use masks. C. The concept of the ludicrous implies that it excites C. The concept of the ludicrous implies that it excites

horror and fear.horror and fear. D. The ludicrous implies that there is a defect or ugliness D. The ludicrous implies that there is a defect or ugliness

that inspires awe.that inspires awe. E. A & B onlyE. A & B only F. B & C onlyF. B & C only G. C & D onlyG. C & D only H. All of the aboveH. All of the above I. None of the aboveI. None of the above

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of poetryCauses of poetry comedycomedy

tragedytragedy tragedytragedy tragedytragedy

Epic PoetryEpic Poetry ImitationImitation The superior artThe superior art

Tragedy 1Tragedy 1

Which of the following Which of the following statements is true?statements is true?

A. Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete A. Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude.and of a certain magnitude.

B. Tragedy occurs in the form of an action, not a narrative.B. Tragedy occurs in the form of an action, not a narrative. C. Tragedy, through exciting pity and fear, causes the purging of C. Tragedy, through exciting pity and fear, causes the purging of

these emotions (catharsis).these emotions (catharsis). D. Plot within a tragedy is nothing more than the imitation of an D. Plot within a tragedy is nothing more than the imitation of an

action.action. E. Tragedy has six parts: plot, character, diction, thought, E. Tragedy has six parts: plot, character, diction, thought,

spectacle, song.spectacle, song. F. A & B onlyF. A & B only G. C& D onlyG. C& D only H. All of the aboveH. All of the above I. None of the above fits perfectlyI. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of poetryCauses of poetry comedycomedy

tragedytragedy tragedytragedy tragedytragedy

Epic PoetryEpic Poetry ImitationImitation The superior artThe superior art

Tragedy 2Tragedy 2

Which of the following Which of the following statements is true?statements is true?

A. Tragedy is an imitation of men, rather than of action.A. Tragedy is an imitation of men, rather than of action. B. Character in tragedy is the first principle, and plot, the second.B. Character in tragedy is the first principle, and plot, the second. C. C. PeripeteiaPeripeteia or reversal of the situation, & recognition scenes, are or reversal of the situation, & recognition scenes, are

part of the plot of tragedy.part of the plot of tragedy. D. The third principle of tragedy is thought—the faculty of saying D. The third principle of tragedy is thought—the faculty of saying

what is possible & pertinent in given circumstances.what is possible & pertinent in given circumstances. E. The fourth principle is diction—the expression of the meaning in E. The fourth principle is diction—the expression of the meaning in

wordswords F. Song is the least powerful of the ornamental elements of tragedy.F. Song is the least powerful of the ornamental elements of tragedy. G. Spectacle is the most artistic element of tragedy.G. Spectacle is the most artistic element of tragedy. H. C, D, E onlyH. C, D, E only I . None of the above fits perfectly.I . None of the above fits perfectly.

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of PoetryCauses of Poetry comedycomedy

tragedytragedy tragedytragedy tragedytragedy

Epic PoetryEpic Poetry ImitationImitation The superior artThe superior art

Tragedy 3Tragedy 3

Which of the following Which of the following statements is true?statements is true?

A. Tragedy is an imitation of something complete & whole—A. Tragedy is an imitation of something complete & whole—that is, it has a beginning, middle & end.that is, it has a beginning, middle & end.

B. A beautiful object (e.g., well crafted tragedy), like a living B. A beautiful object (e.g., well crafted tragedy), like a living organism, must not only have an orderly arrangement of parts organism, must not only have an orderly arrangement of parts but also a magnitude that can be embraced in one view.but also a magnitude that can be embraced in one view.

C. Of all plots and actions, the “episodic” (that is, there is no C. Of all plots and actions, the “episodic” (that is, there is no probable or necessary connection across the episodes) is the probable or necessary connection across the episodes) is the worst, according to Aristotleworst, according to Aristotle

D. A & B onlyD. A & B only E. B & C onlyE. B & C only F. A & C onlyF. A & C only G. All of the aboveG. All of the above H. None of the above fits perfectlyH. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of poetryCauses of poetry ComedyComedy

tragedytragedy tragedytragedy tragedytragedy

Epic PoetryEpic Poetry ImitationImitation The superior artThe superior art

BONUS QUESTION!BONUS QUESTION!

Answer the following:Answer the following: Right now, I am feeling:Right now, I am feeling: A. confusedA. confused B. nervousB. nervous C. pretty confidentC. pretty confident D. amusedD. amused E. entertainedE. entertained F. A & B onlyF. A & B only G. D & E onlyG. D & E only H. Fill in the blank with your answerH. Fill in the blank with your answer

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of PoetryCauses of Poetry comedycomedy

tragedytragedy tragedytragedy tragedytragedy

Epic PoetryEpic Poetry ImitationImitation The Superior The Superior ArtArt

Epic PoetryEpic Poetry

Which of the following Which of the following statements is true?statements is true?

A. Epic poetry differs from tragedy in scale.A. Epic poetry differs from tragedy in scale. B. Homer is the best example of an epic poet, according B. Homer is the best example of an epic poet, according

to Aristotle.to Aristotle. C. The element of the wonderful is required in tragedy; C. The element of the wonderful is required in tragedy;

the irrational, on which the wonderful relies, has a wider the irrational, on which the wonderful relies, has a wider scope in epic poetry.scope in epic poetry.

D. All of the above except AD. All of the above except A E. All of the above except BE. All of the above except B F. All of the above except CF. All of the above except C G. All of the aboveG. All of the above H. None of the above fits perfectlyH. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of poetryCauses of poetry comedycomedy

tragedytragedy tragedytragedy tragedytragedy

Epic PoetryEpic Poetry ImitationImitation The superior artThe superior art

ImitationImitation

Which of the ff. statements is true?Which of the ff. statements is true? A. According to Aristotle, the poet, as an imitator, may imitate A. According to Aristotle, the poet, as an imitator, may imitate

one of the following—things as they were or are; things as they one of the following—things as they were or are; things as they are said or thought to be; things as they ought to be.are said or thought to be; things as they ought to be.

B. For Aristotle, the standard of correctness is the same in B. For Aristotle, the standard of correctness is the same in politics and poetry.politics and poetry.

C. For Aristotle, intention (e.g., secure a greater good or avert C. For Aristotle, intention (e.g., secure a greater good or avert an evil) is important in determining poetic fitness.an evil) is important in determining poetic fitness.

D. The irrational or depravity of character should be censured D. The irrational or depravity of character should be censured when there is no inner necessity for introducing them.when there is no inner necessity for introducing them.

E. All of the above except AE. All of the above except A F. All of the above except BF. All of the above except B G. All of the above except CG. All of the above except C H. All of the above except DH. All of the above except D I. None of the above fits perfectlyI. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetryKinds of poetry Causes of PoetryCauses of Poetry ComedyComedy

TragedyTragedy TragedyTragedy TragedyTragedy

Epic PoetryEpic Poetry ImitationImitation The Superior The Superior ArtArt

The Superior ArtThe Superior Art

Which of the ff. statements is true?Which of the ff. statements is true? A. Tragic art requires gesture while the epic does not.A. Tragic art requires gesture while the epic does not. B. Tragic art appeals to an inferior audience; epics B. Tragic art appeals to an inferior audience; epics

appeal to a cultivated audience.appeal to a cultivated audience. C. Tragic art uses all the elements of the epic but C. Tragic art uses all the elements of the epic but

concentrates them by using narrower limits.concentrates them by using narrower limits. D. A tragedy has less unity than an epic.D. A tragedy has less unity than an epic. E. Tragedy is superior to epics.E. Tragedy is superior to epics. F. All of the above are false except A & CF. All of the above are false except A & C G. All of the above are false except C & EG. All of the above are false except C & E H. All of the above are falseH. All of the above are false I. None of the above fits perfectlyI. None of the above fits perfectly

The End!The End!