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ΕΙΔΗ Τx03A1;ΑΓΩΙΔΙΑΣ in Aristotle's Poetics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

D.J. Allan
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow

Extract

A Distinction of four species of tragedy and epic poetry is laid down, though not explained at length, in two passages of the Poetics (18, I455b32–56a3 and 24, I459b7–16), and, as I hope to show, mentioned in another (12, ). At the end of the treatise, Aristotle positively says that he has given an explanation of both the species and the component parts of tragedy and epic poetry (l462bl6–l8 ).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1972

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References

page 83 note 1 In the Poetics is generic. Where ‘any tragedy’ is intended, this is expressed by , e.g. 18, I455b24 . In 1450a7 Else and Kassel read, with B, . But is disturbing. The meaning is: ‘Every tragedy necessarily contains six of such parts as give quality to tragedy (generic).’

page 84 note 1 See Dirlmeier, F., Merkwürdige Zitate in der Eudemischen Ethik (Heidelberg, 1962), pp. 514Google Scholar, on the relation between oral and literary exposition, and his note in Aristoteles Werke, Bd. 7, Eudemische Ethik (1962), pp. 246–7, concerning the tables in the Ethics; also Burnet, , Ethics of Aristotle (1900), p. 97.Google Scholar On Nic. Eth. 2. 7, Monro, D.B. in Journal of Philology vi (1876), 185–8;Google ScholarGauthier, and Jolif, , L'Ethique à Nicomaque ii. 152.Google Scholar

page 86 note 1 I shall assume here, to simplify the discussion, that means ‘portraying character’ and ‘presenting destructive and painful actions’, but I recognize that a good case can be made out for other interpretations.