Essential reading for all students of Greek theatre and literature, Aristotle's
"Poetics" remains equally stimulating for anyone interested in literature. This
"Penguin Classics" edition is translated with an introduction and notes by Malco
lm Heath. In his near-contemporary account of classical Greek tragedy, Aristotle
examine the dramatic elements of plot, character, language and spectacle that c
ombine to produce pity and fear in the audience, and asks why we derive pleasure
from this apparently painful process.
Taking examples from the plays of "Aes
chylus", "Sophocles" and "Euripides", the "Poetics" introduced into literary cri
ticism such central concepts as mimesis ('imitation'), hamartia ('error') and ka
tharsis, which have informed serious thinking about drama ever since. Aristotle
explains how the most effective tragedies rely on complication and resolution, r
ecognition and reversals, while centring on characters of heroic stature, ideali
sed yet true to life. One of the most perceptive and influential works of critic
ism in Western literary history, the "Poetics" has informed serious thinking abo
ut drama ever since.
