Classical poetics
Classical poetics is the literary theory, criticism, and aesthetics developed in ancient Greece and Rome, focusing on the nature, purpose, and techniques of poetry and drama.
Key concepts include mimesis (imitation of reality), catharsis (emotional purging), and formal elements like metrical patterns and genre conventions. Foundational works like Aristotle’s Poetics provided frameworks for analyzing tragedy, epic, and other forms, which profoundly influenced Western literature through periods like the Renaissance and Neoclassicism.
- Mimesis: The imitation or representation of reality, a central goal for poets and a key criterion for evaluating literary works.
- Catharsis: The emotional release or purification experienced by the audience, particularly through tragedy.
- Form and Structure: Emphasis on formal structures, metrical patterns (like iambic pentameter), and adherence to genre conventions (epic, tragedy, lyric).
- Rhetorical Devices: The integrated use of figurative language, such as metaphor, simile, and alliteration, to create vivid imagery and convey meaning.
- Universal Themes: A focus on universal themes and archetypal characters to create broadly resonant and meaningful narratives.
- Aristotle: His treatise Poetics is a cornerstone of classical poetics, focusing on tragedy, epic poetry, and fundamental principles of storytelling, including plot, character, and emotion.
- Horace: A key figure from the Greco-Roman tradition who, along with Aristotle, was considered a definitive spokesman for classical literary standards.
- Longinus: Contributed to the discussion of the sublime and imagination in literature.
Greco-Roman Period: The period when these foundational ideas and terms of reference for poetry were established.
Renaissance: A revival of classical learning, which led to a renewed interest in works by Aristotle and Horace and the application of classical principles to literature in vernacular languages.
Neoclassicism: A later period, especially in the late 17th and 18th centuries, that emphasized codifying classical rules and guidelines for poetry and literature. In essence, classical poetics provides a detailed framework for understanding the art of poetry and drama, emphasizing structure, content, form, and audience reception, and leaving a lasting legacy on subsequent literary traditions.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[2] https://fiveable.me/classical-poetics/unit-1
[3] https://library.fiveable.me/classical-poetics
[5] https://fiveable.me/classical-poetics/unit-13
[6] https://www.academia.edu/4950010/Classical_Poetics_in_PEPP_