The Poetics of Aristotle

Aristotle's Poetics is the earliest surviving work of dramatic theory and the first extant philosophical treatise which deals with literary theory. In this text, Aristotle offers an account of poetry or "the poetic art." Aristotle divides poetry into verse drama (that includes comedy, tragedy, and the satyr play), lyric poetry, and epic. He differentiates these genres by rhythm, music, melody, goodness of characters whether the narrative is told or acted on stage.