ISSN 2348-3156 (Print)

International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Vol. 6, Issue 1, pp: (512-514), Month: January - March 2018, Available at: [Link]

RESEARCH PAPER ON ARISTOTLE

POETICS AND CRITICISM
Yahya Jabbar Jubarah
ESP. Instructor, English Department at
The Higher Institution for Applied Education and Navigation

Abstract: The paper focuses on the Aristotle’s ideals in poetics and criticism and their Influence on English
literature. His ideals inspired great writers in their writings and analysis. Taking a brief but close look to his book
‘Poetics’ in which he wrote down his theories in drama, tragedy and comedy. Before the conclusion, the paper also
spots the light on the elements of Aristotelian Tragedy.
Keywords: Aristotle’s ideals, poetics, criticism, Aristotelian Tragedy.

1. PREFACE
Considered to be one of the most influential literary figures not only in Greece but also in all over the world; This figure
is the great Greek philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle‟s passion to reach ideal forms of any social or literary structure was the
feeling power to his explorations.
Looking inside his detailed analysis of the tragic plays anyone can easily notice that he was the one who has laid the
foundations for most of the famous European playwrights like William Shakespeare to follow and build upon for
centuries to come.
The leading Greek philosopher and the tutor of Alexander the Great was born on 384 BC. He was the student of the Plato.
His writings deal with many aspects of life: physics, metaphysics, theater, linguistics, policy and biology. His writings
were the first of its kind that formulate the western philosophy.
Aristotle was born in Stageira, Chalcicie. his father was the physician of the royal Court. He was educated and taught in
aristocratic society. He was appointed as the head of the royal academy of Macedonia where he gave lessons to many
students one of them was Alexander the Great.
Aristotle considers the Epic poetry, comedy and tragedy should be imitative.

2. HIS BOOK ‘POETICS’

One of the earliest and most efficient literary works the somehow managed to reach our present days undamaged;
“Poetics” –written by Aristotle – has given a philosophical outline for literary theory.
This book is a very important literary one that deals with the theory of tragedy. Any tragedy is composed of two basic
main portions; the first of which is complication that means the peaking of the incidents towards a knot while the
uncovering and gradually solving the knot through at the play 1.
Also, as for the theory of the literature at large, the book has taken high place in the context of international literature.
„Poetics‟ is the early –surviving book on the drama theory. Aristotle supposes account of on the dramatic theory. He
examines the principles and establishes identification to its genres. He presents an analysis to the tragedy as the core of
the book .

1
“the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language; in
a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions”,
Butcher, Samuel H., Aristotle's Theory of Poetry and Fine Art, New York ,1911.
Page | 512
Research Publish Journals
 ISSN 2348-3156 (Print)
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Vol. 6, Issue 1, pp: (512-514), Month: January - March 2018, Available at: [Link]

The Arabic version is the version of the book through which the book has been translated to Latin, then to the modern
European languages .
The book contains the concepts of tragedy and its element from Aristotelian perspective. Aristotle has deeply admired
with Sophocles' Odepious the king, considering it the perfect tragedy form; that his analysis is in agreement with the play
most perfectly.
Aristotle engagement in aesthetics consisted the Poetics. As mentioned above the book is mainly involved in dramatic
theory. According to some references the book is divided in to two "books" or what we can call it as volumes, the first
book discusses the tragedy, this book survives. The second part with comedy, this part is lost .
According to Aristotle's „Poetics‟ any tragedy is composed of two basic main portions; the first of which is complication
that means the peaking of the incidents towards a knot while the uncovering and gradually solving the knot through at the
play.
Two kinds of drama in Aristotle perspective: comedy and tragedy, in this distinction, Aristotle distinguishes between the
human natures. Tragedy deals with more serious subjects more crucial affairs than comedy. For Aristotle the types of
characters that are handled by tragedy are far different than those tackled by a comedy. The characters of the tragedy are
more serious, more important and far more virtuous than those found in comedy.
In order for a tragedy to be seen as a complete work of art , according to Aristotle , it must performed by its characters
rather than just be narrated by another third party . He sees that the characters of a tragedy using their actions as well as
the other elements of melancholy , music, monologues and its like to form the tragedy into what it is ; a source that drives
a group of totally different and mixed feelings and human reactions.
3. ARISTOTELIAN TRAGEDY CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING PARTS
The Plot:
According to Aristotle , the plot is considered to be the main and the most essential part around which a tragedy is
revolving ; the plot in its simplest meaning is this group of harsh situation , choices in which me protagonist is being put
and suffer whether physically or psychologically in order to strike fear into the hearts of the audience for the life of the
Protagonist and eventually ,of course , taking his life away to generate pity and sadness.
For the tragedy to be complete, its set of actions should build up naturally as well as logically to convince the audience
and thus having a deeper effect on their emotions.
The Character:
The events in a tragedy as mainly serving and derived from a main tragic accident that affects the protagonist whether it
was because a mistake committed by him or it was just happened . the rest of characters must be wise and virtuous enough
to try to help the protagonist get out of his dilemma. As Aristotle also sees, that the wisest man on the tragedy must be an
old man, for with age comes the wisdom.
Melody:
Chorus is one of the main actors in the tragedy, that means the chorus sharing the action with other characters
Thought:
When the characters are well reflected from speech, here is the thought. Thought is when something is proved to be or not
to be.
Diction:
Diction is expression of proper word meaning to the plot and characters and to the climax and catastrophe of the tragedy
to the n in words.
Spectacles:
The spectacles are all what is connected with the visual elements of the play or the tragedy that strengthens the cultural
and historical background of the tragedy . However, Aristotle sees it as the least important elements in a tragedy ; That‟s
to say it can help make the tragedy look more realistic but if the other more important elements are less strong the
spectacles element shall go in rain no matter how strong it is.
Page | 513
Research Publish Journals
 ISSN 2348-3156 (Print)
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Vol. 6, Issue 1, pp: (512-514), Month: January - March 2018, Available at: [Link]

Catharsis:
By catharsis Aristotle means the set of different and strong emotion derived from the audience when they undergo a series
of unexpected actions, unexpected and unpleasant as well to be precise. Examples of such feelings are fear and pity.

4. CONCLUSION
Aristotelian criticism is a critical theory, doctrine, or approach based upon the method used by Aristotle in the Poetics,
implying a formal, logical approach to literary analysis that is centered on the work itself. 2
Usually Aristotelian criticism is practiced on plays, and even then, is used in Greek tragedies. According to Aristotelian
criticism, in The Death of a Salesman Wally Loman is often considered a tragic hero; his downfall is also brought about
by hubris.
Aristotle is primarily concerned in theoretical construction of drama especially tragedy. Audience of all levels and ages
dramatically establish their own interpretation of his statements which were driven by his elliptical writing. Human needs
is the source of inspiration to any tragic playwright.
Longinus raises against the popular rhetoric of the time by attacking ancient theory in its concern with a detailed criticism
of words, metaphors, and figures. He refused that and promotes the appreciation of literary devices.
REFERENCES
[1] Aristotle, The poetics: Translated by S.H Butcher [Link]
[2] Encyclopedia of Philosophy ([Link]
[3] Butcher, Samuel H., Aristotle's Theory of Poetry and Fine Art, New York ,1911.
[4] Price, James: A Lesson on Criticism from Aristotle on January 22, 2013 in Leadership and Management (http://
[Link]/[Link]/2013/01/lesson-criticism-aristotle/
[5] Ransom, John Crowe: The Literary Criticism of Aristotle (Reconsiderations, No. 10),The Kenyon Review , Vol. 10,
No. 3 (Summer, 1948), pp. 382-402
[6] George W. E. Russell (editor), Letters of Matthew Arnold, 1849–88, 2 vols. (London and New York: Macmillan,
1895)

2
Cf. Platonic criticism
Page | 514
Research Publish Journals