Aristotle’s Poetics Student Edition Prepared by: Dr. Kay Picart Associate Professor of English Courtesy Associate Professor of Law

Name that Aristotelian Trivia

Kinds of poetry Causes of poetry comedy tragedytragedytragedy Epic poetry Imitation The superior art

Kinds of Poetry

What are the different kinds of poetry, according to Aristotle? A. Epic prose A. Epic prose B. Tragedy B. Tragedy C. Horror C. Horror D. Comedy D. Comedy E. Dithyrambic Poetry E. Dithyrambic Poetry F. Flute Music F. Flute Music G. Lyre Music G. Lyre Music H. Guitar Music H. Guitar Music I. A – E only I. A – E only J. None of the above fits perfectly J. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetry Causes of Poetry comedy tragedytragedytragedy Epic poetry Imitation The superior art

Causes of Poetry

Which of the following statements are true? A. One reason for why we like poetry is because we have an instinct for imitation. A. One reason for why we like poetry is because we have an instinct for imitation. B. This instinct for imitation is something we share just like, and no more than, the animals. B. This instinct for imitation is something we share just like, and no more than, the animals. C. There is pleasure and pain in viewing imitations, even if what they depict is painful or ignoble. C. There is pleasure and pain in viewing imitations, even if what they depict is painful or ignoble. D. The pleasure we get from imitation is the recognition of likeness. D. The pleasure we get from imitation is the recognition of likeness. E. Another reason why we like poetry is because we have an instinct for harmony and rhythm. E. Another reason why we like poetry is because we have an instinct for harmony and rhythm. F. We possess an instinct for preaching, which makes us like poetry. F. We possess an instinct for preaching, which makes us like poetry. G. All of the above except B, C, F G. All of the above except B, C, F H. All of the above except F H. All of the above except F

Kinds of poetry Causes of poetry comedy tragedytragedytragedy Epic Poetry Imitation The superior art

Comedy

Which of the following statements is true? A. Comedy is an imitation of “lower” (ludicrous) types. A. Comedy is an imitation of “lower” (ludicrous) types. B. Only comedies use masks. B. Only comedies use masks. C. The concept of the ludicrous implies that it excites horror and fear. C. The concept of the ludicrous implies that it excites horror and fear. D. The ludicrous implies that there is a defect or ugliness that inspires awe. D. The ludicrous implies that there is a defect or ugliness that inspires awe. E. A & B only E. A & B only F. B & C only F. B & C only G. C & D only G. C & D only H. All of the above H. All of the above I. None of the above I. None of the above

Kinds of poetry Causes of poetry comedy tragedytragedytragedy Epic Poetry Imitation The superior art

Tragedy 1

Which of the following statements is true? A. Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude. A. Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude. B. Tragedy occurs in the form of an action, not a narrative. B. Tragedy occurs in the form of an action, not a narrative. C. Tragedy, through exciting pity and fear, causes the purging of these emotions (catharsis). C. Tragedy, through exciting pity and fear, causes the purging of these emotions (catharsis). D. Plot within a tragedy is nothing more than the imitation of an action. D. Plot within a tragedy is nothing more than the imitation of an action. E. Tragedy has six parts: plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, song. E. Tragedy has six parts: plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, song. F. A & B only F. A & B only G. C& D only G. C& D only H. All of the above H. All of the above I. None of the above fits perfectly I. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetry Causes of poetry comedy tragedytragedytragedy Epic Poetry Imitation The superior art

Tragedy 2

Which of the following statements is true? A. Tragedy is an imitation of men, rather than of action. A. Tragedy is an imitation of men, rather than of action. B. Character in tragedy is the first principle, and plot, the second. B. Character in tragedy is the first principle, and plot, the second. C. Peripeteia or reversal of the situation, & recognition scenes, are part of the plot of tragedy. C. Peripeteia or reversal of the situation, & recognition scenes, are part of the plot of tragedy. D. The third principle of tragedy is thought—the faculty of saying what is possible & pertinent in given circumstances. D. The third principle of tragedy is thought—the faculty of saying what is possible & pertinent in given circumstances. E. The fourth principle is diction—the expression of the meaning in words E. The fourth principle is diction—the expression of the meaning in words F. Song is the least powerful of the ornamental elements of tragedy. F. Song is the least powerful of the ornamental elements of tragedy. G. Spectacle is the most artistic element of tragedy. G. Spectacle is the most artistic element of tragedy. H. C, D, E only H. C, D, E only I. None of the above fits perfectly. I. None of the above fits perfectly.

Kinds of poetry Causes of Poetry comedy tragedytragedytragedy Epic Poetry Imitation The superior art

Tragedy 3

Which of the following statements is true? A. Tragedy is an imitation of something complete & whole—that is, it has a beginning, middle & end. A. Tragedy is an imitation of something complete & whole—that is, it has a beginning, middle & end. B. A beautiful object (e.g., well crafted tragedy), like a living organism, must not only have an orderly arrangement of parts but also a magnitude that can be embraced in one view. B. A beautiful object (e.g., well crafted tragedy), like a living organism, must not only have an orderly arrangement of parts but also a magnitude that can be embraced in one view. C. Of all plots and actions, the “episodic” (that is, there is no probable or necessary connection across the episodes) is the worst, according to Aristotle C. Of all plots and actions, the “episodic” (that is, there is no probable or necessary connection across the episodes) is the worst, according to Aristotle D. A & B only D. A & B only E. B & C only E. B & C only F. A & C only F. A & C only G. All of the above G. All of the above H. None of the above fits perfectly H. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetry Causes of poetry Comedy tragedytragedytragedy Epic Poetry Imitation The superior art

BONUS QUESTION!

Answer the following: Right now, I am feeling: Right now, I am feeling: A. confused A. confused B. nervous B. nervous C. pretty confident C. pretty confident D. amused D. amused E. entertained E. entertained F. A & B only F. A & B only G. D & E only G. D & E only H. Fill in the blank with your answer H. Fill in the blank with your answer

Kinds of poetry Causes of Poetry comedy tragedytragedytragedy Epic Poetry Imitation The Superior Art

Epic Poetry

Which of the following statements is true? A. Epic poetry differs from tragedy in scale. A. Epic poetry differs from tragedy in scale. B. Homer is the best example of an epic poet, according to Aristotle. B. Homer is the best example of an epic poet, according to Aristotle. C. The element of the wonderful is required in tragedy; the irrational, on which the wonderful relies, has a wider scope in epic poetry. C. The element of the wonderful is required in tragedy; the irrational, on which the wonderful relies, has a wider scope in epic poetry. D. All of the above except A D. All of the above except A E. All of the above except B E. All of the above except B F. All of the above except C F. All of the above except C G. All of the above G. All of the above H. None of the above fits perfectly H. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetry Causes of poetry comedy tragedytragedytragedy Epic Poetry Imitation The superior art

Imitation

Which of the ff. statements is true? A. According to Aristotle, the poet, as an imitator, may imitate one of the following—things as they were or are; things as they are said or thought to be; things as they ought to be. A. According to Aristotle, the poet, as an imitator, may imitate one of the following—things as they were or are; things as they are said or thought to be; things as they ought to be. B. For Aristotle, the standard of correctness is the same in politics and poetry. B. For Aristotle, the standard of correctness is the same in politics and poetry. C. For Aristotle, intention (e.g., secure a greater good or avert an evil) is important in determining poetic fitness. C. For Aristotle, intention (e.g., secure a greater good or avert an evil) is important in determining poetic fitness. D. The irrational or depravity of character should be censured when there is no inner necessity for introducing them. D. The irrational or depravity of character should be censured when there is no inner necessity for introducing them. E. All of the above except A E. All of the above except A F. All of the above except B F. All of the above except B G. All of the above except C G. All of the above except C H. All of the above except D H. All of the above except D I. None of the above fits perfectly I. None of the above fits perfectly

Kinds of poetry Causes of Poetry Comedy TragedyTragedyTragedy Epic Poetry Imitation The Superior Art

Which of the ff. statements is true? A. Tragic art requires gesture while the epic does not. A. Tragic art requires gesture while the epic does not. B. Tragic art appeals to an inferior audience; epics appeal to a cultivated audience. B. Tragic art appeals to an inferior audience; epics appeal to a cultivated audience. C. Tragic art uses all the elements of the epic but concentrates them by using narrower limits. C. Tragic art uses all the elements of the epic but concentrates them by using narrower limits. D. A tragedy has less unity than an epic. D. A tragedy has less unity than an epic. E. Tragedy is superior to epics. E. Tragedy is superior to epics. F. All of the above are false except A & C F. All of the above are false except A & C G. All of the above are false except C & E G. All of the above are false except C & E H. All of the above are false H. All of the above are false I. None of the above fits perfectly I. None of the above fits perfectly

The End!