Aristotle was one of the most influential philosophers in Western philosophy. He wrote on virtually every topic in philosophy and is cited more than any other philosopher. While little is known about his life, the document provides details on Aristotle's biography, including that he was born in Greece in 384 BCE, studied under Plato for 20 years, tutored Alexander the Great, and established his own school called the Lyceum. The document also discusses Aristotle's views on poetry and dramaturgy, including his definition of tragedy according to its characteristics and components.

3. Shatha Rashed Al-Mutairi
Level : 7
Subject : Literary Criticsm -1

4. If there is one thinker most responsible for the
development of the Western philosophical canon, it is
Aristotle. He thought and wrote in virtually every branch
of philosophy and is cited more times than any other
philosopher in the major philosophical encyclopedias.
Although much of modern philosophy has progressed
past his ideas, Aristotle set into motion the major areas of
inquiry that constitute the discipline today.

5. While little is known about Aristotle’s life, we do have a
basic biographical picture.
-Aristotle was born in Northern Greece in the city of
Stagira in 384 BCE.
-Both his parents died when he was 13.-At 17 years old,
Aristotle joined Plato’s Academy and spent 20 years
studying under Plato.
-Travelled abroad, first to the court of Hermias of
Atarneus, then to the island of Lesbos.
-While chiefly known as a philosopher, he was also an
accomplished biologist.

6. -In 343 BCE, Aristotle relocated to Macedon at the behest of King Philip
II to tutor Philip’s son Alexander the Great.
-In 335 BCE he returned to Athens and established his own school the
Lyceum.
-He advocates didacticism, or the approach that art should be used to teach
about life.
-fled Athens in 322 BCE.
-Aristotle died in 322 BCE, at his mother’s family estate on the Greek
island of Euboea.
-After his death, the Peripatetics movement was founded to spread his
philosophy.

7. Aristotle proposes to study poetry by analyzing its
constitutive parts and then drawing general conclusions.
The portion of the Poetics that survives discusses mainly
tragedy and epic poetry.
Aristotle also wrote about comedy.
Humans are naturally drawn to imitation, and so poetry has
a strong pull on us.

8. Aristotle identifies tragedy as the most refined version of
poetry dealing with lofty matters and comedy as the most
refined version of poetry dealing with base matters.
He traces a brief and speculative history of tragedy.
Dithyrambs were sung by a large choir.
Aeschylus invented tragedy by bringing a second actor into
dialogue with the narrator.
Sophocles innovated further by introducing a third actor.

9. It is mimetic
It is serious
It tells a full story of an appropriate length
It contains rhythm and harmony
Rhythm and harmony occur in different
combinations in different parts of the
tragedy
It is performed rather than narrated
It arouses feelings of pity and fear and then
purges these feelings through catharsis
Aristotle defines tragedy according to seven characteristics

10. Plot
Character
Thought
Diction
Spectacle
song
A tragedy consists of six component parts

11. Aristotle believes that epic recitation can be marred by
overdone gesticulation in the same way as a tragedy;
moreover, tragedy, like poetry, can produce its effect
without action - its power is in the mere reading so,
Aristotle argues that tragedy is, in fact, superior to epic,
because it has all the epic elements as well as spectacle and
music to provide an indulgent pleasure for the audience.
Tragedy, then, despite the arguments of other critics, is the
higher art for Aristotle.

12. Thank you