Aristotle's Observations on the Nature of Poetry

Aristotle defines a poet as an imitator and s/he imitates things ‘as they were or as they are’ ‘as they are said or thought to be’ or ‘as they ought to be”. There is a natural pleasure in imitation. It is an inborn natural instinct, and it combines with another instinct, i.e. the tendency to create harmony in producing metrical composition. He makes a comparison between poetry and history. He states that poetry expresses the universal and history the particular. Aristotle dismisses Plato’s observation on poetry and states that poetry is more philosophical and higher than history. The function poetry is to impart pleasure and it springs from the instincts of imitation and rhythm and harmony. He suggests that the function of poetry is to teach, and teaching is desirable only when it is incidental to the pleasure it imparts.  He also argues that the emotional appeal of poetry is not harmful but supports life. Emotions are aroused with a view of their purgation or catharsis.