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Introduction

Aristotle's Poetics (Greek: Περὶ ποιητικῆς, c. 335 BCE^[1]) is the earliest-surviving work of dramatic theory and the first extant philosophical treatise to focus on literary theory.^[2] In it, Aristotle offers an account of what he calls "poetry" (a term which in Greek literally meant "making" and in this context includes drama—comedy, tragedy, and the satyr play—as well as lyric poetry, epic poetry, and the dithyramb). He examines its "first principles" and identifies its genres and basic elements; his analysis of tragedy constitutes the core of the discussion.^[3] "Although Aristotle's Poetics is universally acknowledged in the Western critical tradition," Marvin Carlson explains, "almost every detail about his seminal work has aroused divergent opinions."^[4]