Assignment No.

Subject: Literary Criticism-1

Submitted To: Madam Farrah Ansari

Submitted By: Tayyaba Kanwal, Yusra Naeem and Areeba Aftab

BS-ENGLISH (semester 5)
Aristotle avers that the source of poetry is deeply embedded in our nature as
our instincts of imitation as humans. How according to Aristotle, the instinct of
rhythm and harmony and tragic pleasure (pity and fear) has to be produced by
poet by a work of imitation. Discuss in detail.

Aristotle’s “Poetics” is considered to refute Plato’s charges against poetry. Plato was of the
considerable view that poetry is perhaps the mother of all lies, as it is twice away from reality. He
was of the opinion that this world was created from an idea, therefore, it was not original but a
copy. Poets imitate nature in their poetry which is already a copy. Thus, poetry is a copy of a copy.
Aristotle breathed a new definite meaning to Plato’s ‘imitation’. He considered imitation as a
creative process. For Aristotle, poet’s ‘imitation’ does not merely imply the copying of a thing,
but the creating of it; it involves taking up of things from nature and turning it into something else
with the tool of creativity and imagination.

In “Poetics”, Aristotle avers that the sources of poetry, deeply immersed in our nature,
are the instinct for imitation and the instinct for rhythm and harmony:

“Poetry in general seems to have sprung from two causes, each of them lying deep in our nature.
First, the instinct of imitation…Next, there is the instinct for ‘harmony’ and rhythm, meters being
manifestly sections of rhythm. Persons, therefore, starting with this natural gift developed by
degrees their special aptitudes, till their rude improvisations gave birth to Poetry.” (Poetics)

Aristotle states that the instinct of imitation is present in humans since the time of birth.
This very instinct differs man from other animals and makes him superior from them. Man is the
most imitative of living creatures and finds pleasure in imitation. Man has a natural desire to learn
and gain understanding. When he looks at something and contemplates the likeness it possesses to
the original form, he feels delight. This delight is not due to what is being portrayed but because
of it being a precise imitation of something else. Therefore, finding resemblance in portrayed forms
give liveliest pleasure to men even with limited learning. This very instinct of imitation is one of
the causes why men are inclined towards liking poetry or any other form of art. If men do not
comprehend any similitude in the piece of art, then the pleasure would not be due to imitation, but
rather in the form itself-its manner, composition or such other cause.
 Next, there is the instinct for ‘harmony’ and rhythm from which poetry has sprung. While
creating their works, poets tend to use a wide range of words arranged by numerous methods to
develop cogent expressions pleasing to the readers. This is done to probe the depths of human
thought, emotions and empathy. A poet must carefully pick words that create a strong visual and
sensory impact on the audience. According to Aristotle, poetry, whether it is epic poetry, tragedy,
comedy, dithyrambic poetry, or it is the music of a flute or lyre, all are different modes of imitation.
These are different forms of art but what differentiates them are the manner, medium and the object
of imitation. These imitations, in different forms of art require rhythm, language or harmony either
singly or combined. Music requires harmony and rhythm. Dance requires only rhythm while
imitation in poetry requires language. These three types of art are means of imitation as dance
imitates character, emotion and action. Imitation through language is done either in the form of
verse or prose.

The object in art is constant in every form of art which is the man in action. This art may
be a painting as Dionysus depicts men true to life, Polygnotus depicted men as nobler than they
are while Pauson painted men lower than life. Similarly in language, whether prose or poetry,
object of imitation is man in action. Homer presented men higher than life, Cleophon as they are
and Nichochares worse than they are. How the object, i.e. the man in action is being presented and
what medium is being used affects the genre of the writing. In other words, if the language is in
dramatic 1form, the art produced is tragedy, and when language is in narrative form it forms epic.

According to Aristotle, tragedy is the most superior form of art. It is defined as: "An
imitation of an action which has serious implications, is complete, and possesses magnitude; by
means of language which has been made sensuously attractive, with each of its varieties found
separately in the parts; enacted by the persons themselves and not presented through narrative;
through a course of pity and fear completing the purification (catharsis, sometimes translated
"purgation") of such emotions."

Tragedy can generate pity and fear through its form. A good tragedy is directly related to
our human nature. A tragic poet depicts such a pitiable story that brings forth sympathy from the
audience. Tragic play arouses emotions of pity and fear in the spectators and then purifies them.

1
Drama is a type of poetry which is meant to be performed.
The audience also undergo a cathartic experience. According to Aristotle, it is necessary for a poet
to produce an appropriate pleasure of a certain kind, from pity and fear through imitation. This
effect of pity and fear should be created under the circumstances Aristotle asserts that the poet
imitates or represents reality itself, and gives form and meaning to it. Therefore, the instinct of
rhythm, harmony and tragic pleasure is produced by the poets through the process of imitation.

Aristotle’s poetic views are blatantly differing from that of Plato. He considers poetry
emanating from instinct of imitation, harmony and rhythm. For him, poetry talks about the ideal
(what may happen?) which makes it universal and thus higher and more philosophical.

REFERENCE:

http://www.askliterature.com/literary-criticism/aristotle/aristotles-concept-of-imitation/

http://anubooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/N-2-2016-17.pdf

http://www.aristotelophile.com/Books/Articles/AristotleOnPoetryAndLimitation.pdf

https://monadshavenowindows.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/aristotle-on-the-relation-of-art-to-
human-nature/

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/from-what-two-instincts-natural-human-beings-783764

https://escholarship.org/content/qt4d94k0tx/qt4d94k0tx.pdf

https://literaryfruit.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/essay-art-as-imitation-in-plato-and-aristotle/

https://monadshavenowindows.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/aristotle-on-the-relation-of-art-to-
human-nature/

https://nisd.net/sites/default/files/pdf/summer_reading/Warren%204%20AP%20APD%20Aristot
le.pdf