This document discusses Plato's charges against poetry. It provides context on the Classical period in Greek and Roman literature. It then focuses on Plato, his life, works, and his famous charges against poetry. Plato charged that poetry is false and imitative by being thrice removed from reality. He also found it to be emotionally exciting and morally corrupting by fostering undesirable passions in society. For these reasons, Plato believed that poetry must be excluded from his ideal state.