Poetics (Dover Thrift Editions: Philosophy) - Softcover

Aristotle

Softcover

ISBN 10: 048629577X ISBN 13: 9780486295770

Publisher: Dover Publications, 1997

Synopsis

Among the most influential books in Western civilization, Aristotle's Poetics is really a treatise on fine art. In it are mentioned not only epic and dithyrambic poetry, but tragedy, comedy, and flute and lyre playing. Aristotle's conception of tragedy, i.e. the depiction of a heroic action that arouses pity and fear in the spectators and brings about a catharsis of those emotions, has helped perpetuate the Greek ideal of drama to the present day. Similarly, his dictums concerning unity of time and place, the necessity for a play to have a beginning, middle, and end, the idea of the tragic flaw and other concepts have had enormous influence down through the ages.
Throughout the work, Aristotle reveals not only a great intellect analyzing the nature of poetry, music, and drama, but also a down-to-earth understanding of the practical problems facing the poet and playwright. Now, in this inexpensive edition of the Poetics, readers can enjoy the seminal insights of one of the greatest minds in human history as he sets about laying the foundations of critical thought about the arts.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Aristotle's Poetics is one of the most powerful, perceptive and influential works of criticism in Western literary history. A penetrating, near-contemporary account of Greek tragedy, it demonstrates how the elements of plot, character and spectacle combine to produce 'pity and fear' - and why we derive pleasure from this apparently painful process. It introduces the crucial concepts of mimesis ('imitation'), hamartia ('error') and katharsis, which have informed serious thinking about drama ever since. It examines the mythological heroes, idealized yet true to life, whom Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides brought on to the stage. And it explains how the most effective plays rely on complication and resolution, recognitions and reversals. Essential reading for all students of Greek literature and of the many Renaissance and post-Renaissance writers who consciously adopted Aristotle as a model, the Poetics is equally stimulating for anyone interested in theatre today.

About the Author:

Aeterna Press: Low-cost, high quality Christian Paperbacks and E-Books. Spanning the genres of Christian Bibles, Commentaries, Theology, Mariology, History, Devotionals, Meditations, Prayers, Monasticism, Sermons, Biographies, The Catholic Church, Church Fathers to Collections, Fiction, Philosophy, History, Literary Collections, References, Critiques and Poetry.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 048629577X
• ISBN 13: 9780486295770
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64