Poetics
Mimesis": Art imitates reality.
"Catharsis": Tragedy purges emotions of pity and fear in the audience.
"Hamartia": Tragic hero's fatal flaw leads to downfall.
"Anagnorisis": Protagonist's moment of realization or discovery.
"Peripeteia": Sudden reversal of fortune for the protagonist.
"Muthos (Plot)": Arrangement of events in a narrative.
"Dianoia (Thought)": Intellectual content or ideas in literature.
"Ethos, Pathos, Logos": Modes of persuasion: credibility, emotion, and logic.
"Katharsis (Purification)": Tragedy cleanses audience's emotions.
"Unity of Action, Time, and Place": Cohesion in plot, time frame, and setting.
"Spectacle (Opsis)": Visual elements of performance in drama.
Mythos: The underlying story or myth within a literary work.
Ethos: The moral character or credibility of the speaker or author, influencing the audience's perception
of the message.
Lexis: The choice and use of words or vocabulary in a literary work.
Melos: The musical elements, rhythm, or harmony within a literary work.
Opsis: The visual aspects, spectacle, or stagecraft in a theatrical performance or literary work.
Aristotle's "Poetics" is one of the foundational texts in Western literary theory and criticism. In it,
Aristotle discusses various aspects of drama, poetry, and storytelling, outlining principles that have
influenced literary analysis for centuries. Here are some key literary terms from Aristotle's "Poetics"
along with their explanations:
Mimesis: Mimesis refers to the imitation or representation of reality in art. Aristotle argues that all art is
a form of mimesis, whether it be poetry, drama, painting, or music. According to Aristotle, artists imitate
the actions, emotions, and characters of real life to create their works.
Catharsis: Catharsis is a term Aristotle uses to describe the emotional effect that tragedy has on its
audience. He suggests that by witnessing the suffering and downfall of tragic characters, audiences
experience a purging or cleansing of their own emotions, particularly feelings of pity and fear.
Hamartia: Hamartia, often translated as "tragic flaw," refers to the error, mistake, or character flaw that
leads to the downfall of a tragic hero in a tragedy. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero's hamartia is a
crucial element in the plot, driving the narrative toward its tragic conclusion.
Anagnorisis: Anagnorisis, sometimes called "recognition" or "discovery," is a moment of revelation or
realization experienced by the protagonist of a tragedy. This moment typically occurs when the
protagonist discovers the true nature of their situation, recognizes their own flaws, or gains insight into
their fate.
Peripeteia: Peripeteia, often referred to as "reversal" or "turning point," is a sudden change in fortune
experienced by the protagonist of a tragedy. This change is typically unexpected and leads to a shift in
the direction of the plot, often resulting in the protagonist's downfall.
Muthos (Plot): Muthos refers to the arrangement or organization of events in a narrative. Aristotle
emphasizes the importance of a well-structured plot in creating a unified and effective work of
literature. He discusses the three essential components of plot: reversal (peripeteia), recognition
(anagnorisis), and suffering (pathos).
Dianoia (Thought): Dianoia refers to the intellectual content or ideas conveyed through a work of
literature. Aristotle discusses the importance of thought or reasoning in poetry and drama, suggesting
that effective works of art should stimulate the audience's intellect as well as their emotions.
Ethos, Pathos, Logos: While not explicitly defined in "Poetics," Aristotle's broader philosophical works
discuss these three modes of persuasion. Ethos refers to the ethical appeal or credibility of the speaker
or character, pathos appeals to the audience's emotions, and logos appeals to reason and logic.
Katharsis (Purification): Katharsis is another term used by Aristotle to describe the effect of tragedy on
the audience. It refers to the purifying or cleansing of the emotions, particularly feelings of pity and fear,
through the experience of witnessing tragic events unfold on stage.
Unity of Action, Time, and Place: Aristotle emphasizes the importance of unity in a work of literature,
particularly in drama. Unity of action refers to the idea that a play should have a single, cohesive plot
with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Unity of time suggests that the events of the play should take
place within a limited time frame, typically no more than a day. Unity of place suggests that the action of
the play should occur in a single location.
Spectacle (Opsis): Aristotle discusses spectacle as one of the six elements of tragedy, along with plot,
character, diction, thought, and song. Spectacle refers to the visual elements of a performance,
including costumes, sets, and special effects. While Aristotle acknowledges the importance of spectacle
in attracting audiences, he suggests that it is the least essential element of tragedy compared to the
other components.
