Oscar Lawson

Aristotle's Poetics and Its Influence on Medieval Thought and Culture (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

This book explores the profound influence of Aristotle's Poetics on medieval and Renaissance thought, tracing its impact on literary criticism, drama, rhetoric, and poetry from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Aristotle's Poetics provided a theoretical foundation for understanding the structure, purpose, and moral function of literature, particularly through its key concepts of mimesis (imitation of life), catharsis (emotional purification), and plot unity. Medieval scholars, theologians, and poets adapted Aristotelian principles to align with Christian theology, integrating classical ideas with spiritual and moral dimensions to guide the soul toward salvation.

The first part of the book focuses on the reception of the Poetics in the medieval period, examining how scholars like Thomas Aquinas and Albertus Magnus engaged with Aristotle's ideas to shape scholastic thought and literary criticism. The adaptation of catharsis as spiritual purification and the use of mimesis in religious and allegorical drama are explored, showing how medieval thinkers saw literature as a reflection of both human and divine orders.

The second part of the book delves into the Renaissance revival of Aristotelian ideas, highlighting key figures such as Lodovico Castelvetro and Sir Philip Sidney. Renaissance humanists reinterpreted Aristotle's Poetics to support the emerging literary ideals of the time, focusing on the importance of plot structure, character development, and the moral function of drama and poetry. The book also explores how Renaissance dramatists like Shakespeare and Marlowe applied Aristotelian principles to create works that engaged audiences emotionally while presenting complex ethical dilemmas.

By tracing the evolution of Aristotelian thought from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, this book demonstrates the enduring relevance of the Poetics in shaping Western literary tradition. It highlights how Aristotle's concepts of narrative unity, emotional engagement, and imitation were adapted to serve the moral, intellectual, and artistic goals of both medieval and Renaissance literature, leaving a lasting legacy on the development of literary theory.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Historia Magna
• Erscheinungstermin: 22. Oktober 2024
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9798227549693
• Artikelnr.: 72376048