PHL 710 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Epic Poetry, Dithyramb, Trochee
6 May 2019
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Document Summary
Wants to approach poetry from a scientific viewpoint. Examining the constituent parts of poetry and drawing conclusions from those observations. First distinction is the means them employ. Poetry is mimetic of non-poetic language, whether in verse or prose. Empedocles is a philosopher who wrote in verse - not a poet. Second distinction is the objects that are imitated. All poetry represents actions with agents who are either better than us, worse than us, or quite like us. Comedy deals with people who are worse than us. Tragedy deals with people who are better than us. Final distinction is with the manner of representation. Poet either speaks directly in narrative or assumes the characters of people in the narrative and speaks through them. Homer alternates between narrative and accounts of speeches given by characters in his narrative. Suggests it is human nature to write and appreciate poetry.
