Literary Criticism Aristotle

Literary Criticism Aristotle (384 B.C. – 322 B.C.)

Theory of mimesis Or

Aristotle views on poetry :-

Q: Write a special not the theory of mimesis presented by Aristotle which refutes the charges against poetry made by Plato. Or Compare and contrast Aristotle’s vies on imitation with Plato. Or Discuss Aristotle’s defence of poetry and poets from the charges made by Plato. Or “The object is

imitation is in he centre, both for Plato and Aristotle but Aristotle differentiate in his own way.”

v Introduction:-

            Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology. Together with Plato and Socrates (Plato's teacher), Aristotle is one of the most important founding figures in Western philosophy. Aristotle's writings were the first to create a comprehensive system of Western philosophy, encompassing morality, aesthetics, logic, science, politics, and metaphysics. Cicero, a great Roman philosopher praises his literary style by calling it

“A river of gold.

He was versatile genius who is known as “

“The father of Subsequent Literary criticism” or

 “The real Torch Bearer of Criticism”.

v‘The poetic – an immense value in the literary criticism.

             Aristotle's Poetics is the earliest-surviving work of dramatic theory and the first extantphilosophical treatise to focus on literary theory. It is of an immense value in literary criticism. It has given birth to a number of literary interpretations. It has been a rich and thought-provoking work. In it his main purpose was to discuss poetry, especially, tragedy, comedy and epic poetry. He took tragedy as “the most representative form of art.”

            For him tragedy was a grand type amongst all arts. He therefore tries to advance a complete definition of tragedy or tragic drama.

va comprehensive treatment of poetry

            The Poetics is the first discussion of literature, and the foundation of all subsequent discussions. It is an exposition of the principle of literary criticism. During the middle ages it was neglected to Syrian and Arabic scholars. At the end of 15th century, it was revival in Renaissance. Italy at the end of the 15th century, IT was received with  reverence in many countries.

            The poetics is a continuous discussion of literary criticism. It is a comprehensive treatment of poetry. It describes the nature and art of poetry on aesthetic grounds. It describes the first principles of poetry and drama. It is a study of practical criticism of poetry. It is a study suggestive ideas. The poetics describes the literary theory, nature and function. Moreover it expounds historical psychological methods criticism. 

vAristotle’s defence of poetry:-

            Although Aristotle was a disciple of Plato, he rejected the theory and doctrines of Plato concerning poetry. HE wrote a famous book on literary criticism ‘The poetics’. In this critical book, Aristotle cleverly defended poetry from the charges made by Plato. Through this work, Aristotle treated a new and definite meaning into poetry. He regarded poetry as an act of imaginative creation. He reinterpreted the doctrines made by Plato and gave fresh meanings. The Aristotle became a legendary figure, who gave authentic definition and principles. His theirs possess permanent value in literary criticism.

v Comparisons and Contrast between the theories of Plato and Aristotle:-

v Similarity in their views

1. Poetry is an imitative art.
2. Poetry arouses emotions.
3. Poetry influences the reader.

v Contrast in their views:-

1. Plato condemned poetry while Aristotle appreciated it.
2. Plato considers poetry an imitation of an imitation, while Aristotle considers it as a creative force.
3. Plato regarded emotion useless from poetry, while Aristotle considered emotion as useful and vital for poetic creation.
4. Plato wanted poetry to give a moral teaching, whereas Aristotle added an element of pleasure to it.
5. Plato looks quite idealistic in his theory, while Aristotle seems a realistic.

             Thus Plato first of all was a moralist while Aristotle was first of all a literary critic.

v Aristotle’s Theory of Mimesis and Defence of Poetry:-

            Aristotle has not invented the term ‘mimesis’. The first great critic and Philosopher has used in connection with poetry. According to Aristotle imitation is  a creative process. In it the poet draws the material from the phenomenal world. Then he adds deletes, modifies, beautifies, alters, create and then caters his new and original creation. In this way, poet, instead of coping makes something new.

v Poetry and Painting V/S. Poetry and Music:-

            According to Aristotle, though imitation is the common base of all sorts of arts, yet they can not be put on the equal level. They vary from one another, Plato equates poetry with painting, whereas Aristotle equalities it with music. According to Aristotle, poetry never remains a mere representation of the surface appearance of the things. But like music, it is a creation and that is why it has may variation and forms in accordance with the mood, situation, time, purpose and person. In this way, poetry has close similarity with music. It is a mistake to compare poetry with painting as Plato did.

v Medium and Manner of Imitation:-

            In the very first chapter of ‘The poetic Aristotle points out how poetry and other arts differ from one another. He gives the different considering the medium and manner. Thus the media of the poet and the painter are different. One imitates through language, rhythm and harmony of words, while the other imitates through form and colours. On the contrary, painting lacks such varied manners. So poetry is nearer to music than painting. Further, the manner f poet may be purely narrative as in the epic or practical and performance based as in the drama. Thus different kinds of poetry differ from each other in their manner of imitation. Even dramatic poetry is differentiated into tragedy ad comedy according as it imitates men as better or worse.

v Nature and Purpose of Poetic Imitation:-

            Aristotle says that the object of poetic imitation is to imitate… “Men not as they are, but as they ought to be.” In other words, poet may represent man either better than real life or worse than they are. It means that according to his theory of imitation, “Imitation is not a mere photographical representation of the surface of things, but is a creative process.”

            The poet selects and orders the material and in this way, he recreates the reality. Thus according to Aristotle, he poet is no mere a slavish imitation. His mind is not ties with reality. “It is not the function of the poet to relate what has happened, but what may happen.

v Scope of Imitation:-

            Aristotle remarks, “Poetry exhibits how a person of a certain nature or type will on a particular occasion, speak or act, according to the law of probability.”

Thus the poetry constantly rises from the particular to the general. The objects of poet imitation are men in action or the actions of man. These actions may be external or internal. Aristotle brings human experience, emotion and patience with the scope of poetic imitation. Poetry may imitate men as better or worse than they are in real life or it may imitate men as between of worse than they are in relief or it may imitate them as they really are. Tragedy and epic represent men on a heroic scale better than they are and comedy  represent men of lower type worse than they are Aristotle does not discuss the third possibility i.e. photographic realism.

v History and poetry:-

            History tells us what actually happened; poetry tells us what may happen. Poetry expresses the universal, history expresses the particular. In this way he shows superiority of poetry over history.

v Philosophy and poetry:-

            Poetry is sublime. Thus its sublimity leads to its universality and eternity. The universal and eternal things are also the subject mater of philosophy. He thus equates poetry with philosophy.

v The element of Pleasure:-

            Aristotle says that an artist imitates, because he gets pleasure in imitation. The aim of imitation is to provide pleasure, not directly. Here Aristotle differs from Plato’s aim of poetry that is ‘to teach’. In brief, the poet imitates the reality and reconstruct it with his imagination. Therefore imitation is highly necessary for the creation of literary art.

v Conclusion:-

            In this way, Aristotle gives a complete interpretation of the entire notion of imitation. His views on mimesis and mimetic arts, like poetry, dramas etc. are much valuable and useful. He clears out all the confusion made by Plato. His theory helps every reader to understand art, its nature and its object. Thus Aristotle breathed new life and soul into the concept of poetic imitation enlarged its scope and showed that it is in reality a creative process.