Thoughts after studying Poetics
We studies Poetics by Aristotle for 2 weeks, I guess in 1 or two more weeks it will be finished.
Poetics is not exactly written by Aristotle, but collected by his students of his lectures, so that’s why there are some definition in Poetics was unknown to the public, and thus remain controversial among scholars, such as the word purgation.
I enjoy reading Poetics because the word choice is simple, the logic is rigorous and the argument is convincing. Unlike Plato who expressed his view like torrent, Aristotle was kind of nonchalant, like a pond of deep water.
Poetics mainly discusses about tragedy, and it dabs a little on epic and comedy.
In this reading report, I will summarize Aristotle’s point of view on tragedy, epic and comedy.
Aristotle made a definition for tragedy: Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions.
1. Imitation is an important word either in Plato’s work, or in Aristotle’s. Plato thinks poets only imitate the surface of arts, touching upon the lower part of the soul, and contributing no good to the society, therefore, poets should be banished from his republic. However, Aristotle thinks high of imitation and poetry. Aristotle thinks imitation is an instinct of our nature. Man can get pleasure from seeing a likeness, and from contemplating the likeness, man get knowledge. Thus, all human being by nature desires knowledge.
2. Aristotle thinks every tragedy must have 6 parts: plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song. Diction and song constitute the medium of imitation, plot constitutes the manner of imitation, and character, thought, spectacle are the objects of imitation. The order of importance of the 6 parts is: plot, character, thought, diction, song and spectacle.
Plot is the most important and indispensable factor for tragedy: the soul of tragedy. Tragedy is an imitation of an action. In action, man’s characters are revealed. Thus the plot and incidents are the purpose of a tragedy. Plot(action) shall have the following features: ⑴the plot shall have a beginning, a middle and an end. It shall be an organic whole, like a living creature. ⑵the plot shall not be too long nor shall it be too short, it shall be of certain magnitude enough to display the sequence of events. ⑶tragedy shall emphasize on one important representative action of the hero. ⑷the plot shall not be episodic, it can be caused by some cause or by accident. The plot, above all, due to some probable or necessary sequence, will inevitably happen. ⑸ plot should be complex. The change of fortune is accompanied by reversal of situation or by recognition or by both. The change of fortune shall be from good to bad, coming about due to some great error or frailty. ⑹Aristotle gives some suggestion about how to handle the incidents/plots:① the action is done consciously and with knowledge of the persons; ② the deed of horror is done in ignorance, and the tie of kinship or friendship is discovered afterwards. ③to be about to act with of the knowledge of the persons and then not to act. ④when someone is about to do an irreparable deed through ignorance, and makes the discovery before it is done. This one and the one before this one, according to Aristotle is the worst one, not tragic at all, for no disaster follows. ⑤the deed should be perpetrated, and discovery made afterwards.⑥the horrible deed is about to do, when the discovery or recognition is made, this one is the best based on Aristotle.
Character is second. Character is shown by action. So Aristotle didn’t say a lot about it. He gives 4 principles for character: ⑴it must be good, if the purpose is good, the character is good. ⑵propriety, don’t use man’s feature to depict woman ⑶true to life ⑷consistency(about this point, I still have some confusion, which will be pending for Professor He’s explanation)
Aristotle thinks tragedy should use embellished language, like rhythm, harmony or songs to make it artistic.
3, Pity and fear are a pair of words, whose order can never be changed, fear must always follow pity. Pity defined by Aristotle: seeing someone who doesn’t deserve it suffering from destructive or painful disaster; Fear: when people hear or see someone better than “I” am or similar to me suffer from destructive harmful evil, “I” fear I myself or people close to me might suffer in future, thus fear arises. Aristotle doesn’t approve using spectacle to arouse pity and fear, for he thinks it is least artistic.
4, purgation is a controversial concept, for Aristotle failed to provide his definition for it in any of his works. The Greek word of purgation is Katharsis. It is originally a medicine vocabulary. It means to evacuate the harmful superfluous materials which cumulated in people’s body. Pleasure comes from the pity and fear offered by the poet through imitation. Aristotle thinks through purgation people can evacuate the superfluous emotions, thus people’s emotion is adjusted. So unlike Plato, who strongly objects pleasure, thinking it will deal negative effect on people, such make disserve to the society, Aristotle approve pleasure, he thinks the pity and fear conjured by tragedy can regulate and thus change people to the benefit of moral goodness.
5, tragedy is a serious art. Tragedy imitates the higher type of people, the noble people, while comedy imitates the lower type of people.