ENC 3416

CUSTER
Project 1

Poetics
Need More Resources?
Spring 2015
Scarlett Singh
What is Poetics?
The term Poetics commonly refers to the theories of the nature and
function of poetry which in this connection is meant to encompass all
conventional forms of literature (Covino and Jolliffe). Poetics is often
referred to as the systematic functions from which the plot derives
from. In order to understand poetics we must examine its origin, its
common elements, and how it differs from linguistics.

Poetics: The Origin

In 350 BC, Aristotle wrote Poetics, a work where he examined the
workings of literature. Although Poetics sounds a lot like poetry, its
study is not restricted to poetry. In Ancient Greece at the time, all
literature was considered a poem, so he included plays and stories as
well. In Poetics, Aristotle focused on tragedy versus epic tragedy, and
their components. A tragedy consists of six component parts: plot,
character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. We take away his
components from poetics and apply to it all literature analytically.
Aristotle was a major Greek philosopher who wrote an estimated 200
works that consist of scientific studies, dialogues, and more. He is
widely known for studying under Plato and for tutoring Alexander the
Great as a child. Aristotle composed a number of artistic works besides
Poetics, including Rhetoric and Posterior Analytics.

Components of Poetics
Who uses poetics? As you have realized you have most definitely used
the components of poetics or have studied them at one point, and will

continue to on your EWM journey.

These components answer questions such as: How do these stories
work? What points of view are present? How are the characters
presented? (Bulkeley)

Is Poetics Linguistics?
Poetics is the systematic establishment of literature, but it primarily
focuses on what makes a verbal message a work of art. In other words,
it emphasizes upon the visual components that dominates the work.
Linguistics focuses on the study of language and its structure. In
theory, poetics can be a subdivision of linguistics, since linguistics can
look at the structure of poetic design (Jakobson). On the contrary,
poetics focuses on the artistic components of the structure while
linguistics focuses on the scientific study of language. All in all
linguistics does not really care about the formality So in a formal
conclusion, Poetics and Linguistics are not the same thing. They should
be treated and studied differently.

Aristotle 384 BC 322BC

What an EWM Student Needs

to Know
Plot

Most important component

according to Aristotle. The plot
connects the facts and the
events of literature.

Character Important in order to support

the plot. Literature is
composed of actor/actors and
how the text develops or how
it is described is based upon

characterization.

Thought Includes the themes of the

play. It is where something is
proved, and how speeches
should reveal character.
Diction

Uses stylistic approaches in

order to express meaning
through words. A great
example of diction that
Aristotle was keen on is
metaphors.

Melody Musical element, where the

literature would appear in a
song manner. Melody should
not stray away from the plot,
but rather contribute to uniting
the plot.
Spectacle Is the least connected with
literature. Aristotle
emphasized that emotion
should stem more from the
actor themselves, and the
spectacle aspect should be
there for mere enhancement.

Poetics and Poetry

You may have noticed by now this pamphlet goes into great detail on
the ways to use poetics outside of poetry. But poetics does play a big
role in poetry. Poetics is essentially the basis for poetry as well, just as
it is for most works of literature. The difference here is that poetics
enhance poetry by providing it with literary tools to make poetry
classified as art. Aristotle discusses a lot about Poetry in Poetics
because at the time all literature was poetry. Poetics has worked to
classify the difference between tragedy and epic poetry, helping
writers distinguish where they want their work to fall into, and what
types of poetic medium they want to take to have their work be most

effective.

Work Cited

Aristotle;s Poetics, Demetrius on Style, and Selections from Aristotle's Poetics. Digital
image. Cat's Cradle Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.catscradlebks.net/pages/books/1090078/aristotle-demetrius-phalereus-rev-ta-moxon/aristotles-poetics-demetrius-on-style-and-selections-from-aristotles-poetics-withhobbes-digest>.

Aristotle's Poetics. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.

<http://www1.union.edu/wareht/gkcultur/guide/18/aristotle.html>.

"Aristotle's Poetics: Literature." Aristotle Poetics. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.

Covino, and Jolliffe. "What Is Rhetoric?" Glossary (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 8 Feb. 2015.
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7lVr3XIYmmNaEpyUVdLVkdJSUk/edit>.

Feather Fountain Pen. Digital image. Pixshark.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
<http://192.185.99.128/~cleaner/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/feather-penink400px1.jpg>.

"The Internet Classics Archive | Poetics by Aristotle." The Internet Classics Archive |
Poetics by Aristotle. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.

Jakobson, Roman. "Style In Language." Closing Statement: Linguisitics and Poetics (1960):
n. pag. The Technology Press of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and John Wiley &
Sons, Inc., New York-London. Web.

"Layout and Font." Scott-Forsman Handbook. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 320-31. Print.

Olsen, Stein H. "What Is Poetics?" The Philosopical Quarterly (1976): n. pag. Print.

"Outline of Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy." Outline of Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.

"Theory of Narrative: Poetics." Poetics: The Systematic Study of Literature: Narrative

Poetics. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.