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.

Plato’s Attack on Poetry

        The entire corpus of Plato's criticism on art and literature is built on two key concerns; the role of art in moulding character and promoting the well being of the state. He disapproves art and literature because they are twice removed from reality. In addition to this, he attacks poetry on three grounds. They are poetic inspiration, the emotional appeal of poetry and its non-moral character.  Poetry is a product of inspiration which affects the emotions (heart)rather than reason (Intellect). Beauty of form enhances this influence. As he already stated, art appeals to emotions.The pictures, characters and scenes of art overpower emotions and imprison reason. Since emotions are impulsive, they cannot provide guidance to us like reason does. He quotes instances of weeping and wailing from tragedies of the times and argues that they feed and water passions and pity helping them to dominate and incapacitate reason. When it comes to actual life, people whose pity and passions grew by feeding on the griefs of others would find it difficult to exercise their rational faculty. Plato indicts poetry for its lack of concern with morality. Poetry treats virtues and vices alike.