ideas that Aristotle inscribed in his Poetics

Engaging into the Poetics of Aristotle

I . Introduction

Literary analysis starts with how the literature on hand affects the reader holding the book , listening to the poem , or watching a play . When that connection is established , experiencing the literature by the reader or audience will follow . After the reader has experienced the literature , then analysis can take place . Analysis can take the form of insight generation , sharing of reactions , an energetic discourse or a serious piece of expressing one 's take on the literary piece

On a personal experience , reading a

poem and listening to one gives a different effect that sometimes lead to small differences in analysis of the same literature . Reading Oedipus Rex and watching it on stage are appreciating poetry in any form it is shared . The piece of literature tries to reach out to that one thing common in men and women of all time and age . If the piece of literature is able to do this , then the poetry is successful in its being a poem

II . Body

This personal outline follows Aristotle 's discourse on literature articulated elaborately on his major work Poetica . Of many concepts in Poetica , it is mimesis and catharsis that has affected my own personal framework for literary criticisms . Mimesis according to Aristotle is one of the reasons why there is poetry . Poetry mimics real events that human beings experience . Mimesis is not squarely parroting the real world but it is the creative expression of the experienced Poetry does not come from nothingness . It comes from beingness therefore , a poem if it truly comes from something real will be able to find common ground with its audience as it mimics that same feeling that the audience has experienced before experiencing the poem . It 's not necessary to become a King such as Oedipus to experience guilt or the feeling of helplessness to change a tragedy

Catharsis is another concept in Poetica that has affected literary criticism since its presentation . Though modern scholars continue to find exact words to articulate what exactly is catharsis , this phenomenon that the reader or audience feels at that one point in the literature is the most important element that the poem must acquire Personally , catharsis is that one point in the art form that releases tension at the same time fills one with a new realization , revelation or insight . It is where tragedy gets all of one 's similar experience that the literature has mimicked but at the same time gives the experience back to the audience like it was a gift that cannot be lost

MH Abrams in most ways are like Aristotle 's discourse on poetry but furthers the discussions to specifically point out how poetry is able to surpass the mere mimicking . In the Mirror and the Lamp , the difference between objects in poetry and in real life is clearly marked by how poetry is able to elaborate the subject to show the beauty in everyday things . Poetry is able to reveal...