Aristotle’ s Theory of imitation

The term 'imitation' was not used for the first time by Aristotle. Plato used 'imitation' in his
Republic. But Aristotle's use of term imitation in Poetics is fraught with new dimensions.

Define poetry according to Plato and Aristotle

 According to Plato, poetry like all other imitative arts, is an imitator of appearance and
thus twice removed from reality and truth.it is the shadow of shadows. Plato called it is
mother of lies.
 In Poetics, Aristotle defines poetry as an imitation of human actions. By "imitation" he
means something like "representation": the poem imitates by taking an instance of
human action and representing it in a new "medium" or material that of words. Poetry
according to Aristotle, is not an imitation of a shadow, but it is the imitation of 'ideal
reality'. Poetry achieves idealization by dealing with the essential and discarding the
accidental and transient. Imitation is of deeper reality and the very basic elements of
human nature.
Plato’s Concept/Theory of Imitation:
Plato was against poetry and poets. He said that the poets used to present a copy of nature in
poetry.
For example:
Plato gives the example of carpenter who is making a bed. The idea of bed in the mind of a
carpenter is real and bed is copy of that idea. So the idea of nature by God is real and nature is
copy and poet copy the nature, so poetry twice removed from reality. It is a “shadow of
shadows“, “copy of copy“.
Aristotle’s concept of imitation
Aristotle‘s concept of Imitation is not mere copy but presentation of the ideal reality. Poet does
not represent the outward appearance but represents deeper reality. A tragic poet represents the
hero better than average which is representation of the idea of human nature, it is not mere
representation of outward appearance. He says that poetry deals with ideal reality and the
significance of poetic truth that is Universal, essential and permanent.
Aristotle says that poet is creator not mere copier.
Differences in the modes of imitation
There are three modes of imitation.
1) Medium of poetry
In the kinds of fine arts like poetry, music and painting the medium of poetry and music is
harmony and rhythm but the medium of painting is color and form. So, poetry linked with music
not with painting. Language is also common element of poetry and music.
2) Objects of poetry
According to Aristotle the object of poetry is “men in action”. In tragedy the man is represented
better than average and in comedy worse than average. Aristotle does not give importance to the
imitation of men as they are in real life.
 Imitation is outward as well as inner activity
Men in action, include their thoughts, feelings, will, motive and emotions show the inner activity
of men and the outer activities also are the results of inner motives.
3) The manner of poetic imitation
The manner of poetic imitation are narrative and dramatic. In pure narrative manner epic poems
were written and in dramatic manner the tragedy and comedy were written.
 Imitation is creative art, process of imagination and recreation
The poetic process is not mere copying but a creative vision through which poet take
material. Poet takes things:- As they were, As they are, As they thought to be and As they ought
to be.
 Universal truth of poetry,
 imitation of ideals.
Poetry is not photographic representation but it is the imitation of the ideals. Poet represents what
is possible according to the law of probability and necessity?
 imitation: a process of ordering and arranging
According to Aristotle the imitation is a process of ordering and arranging. In dramatic art
implied artistic selection and arrangement of materials as in tragedy and comedy.
 Possible limitations in Aristotle’s imitation
  Aristotle’s concept of tragic character that it is better than average is not valid for all
tragedies. In Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth the tragic characters not better than average
in moral sense.
 Term imitation was taken from Plato and Aristotle gave it wider and deeper significance.
Aristotle gave significance to creative imagination instead of mere copying and that it is
different from painting.
conclusion
Aristotle’s theory of Imitation is a great landmark in the history of literary criticism. It has been
accepted all over the world as a guiding principle. By declaring poetic Imitation a creative
process Aristotle has given  Poetry a very high place in the realm of Art and literature.
1.
 IMITATION • The word imitation in Greek is ‘mimesis’ • We cannot make a limitation
or boundary to the word imitation • The word imitation has a psychological relevance •
All the actions in our life are the results of imitation • The word mimicry is derived from
the word mimesis • We can divide imitation mainly into two as the imitation of inward
and outward activity
2. 2. INWARD AND OUTWARD • The ideas that we follow are the examples of inner
imitation – Religious ideas and beliefs, culture based behaviour etc… • Physically
imitated things are the examples of outward imitation –Hair styles, dressing codes etc…
3. 3. IMITATION IN LITERATURE • In literature, the word imitation is firstly defined
by Plato (He is the mentor of Aristotle). Aristotle then took the term ‘imitation’ and gave
new dimensions and significance to the term .
4. 4. PLATO’S IDEA OF IMITATION • Plato divides arts into useful arts like medicine
and agriculture and imitative arts like poetry and drama. • IDEA was the truth or reality
and the world is mere representation of reality.(imitation of reality) • The objects before
us are the imitation of reality.
5. 5. • Poetry is the imitation of appearances, which are already the imitation of reality.
•Poetry is twice removed from reality or truth. It is the shadow of shadows or the mother
of lies. •Imagination is the other name of imitation. •Poetry becomes a dangerous rival to
morality. •Milton’s epic poem ‘The Paradise Lost’.
6. 6. ARISTOTLE’S CONCEPT OF IMITATION • Aristotle gave new dimension and
significance to the term imitation, which removed the sense of inferiority attached to it by
Plato. • Aristotle doesn’t pay more attention to morality like Plato in poetic imitation. •
Poetry is one of the fine arts. • Poetry is the reproduction in accordance with the poet’s
idea. • Poetry is not a mere copying but an act of creative vision. • Through imitation, the
poet can make something out of the real and actual.
7. 7. MEDIUM OF IMITATION • All art is a type of imitation, but there are differences
in the medium of imitation. Poetry and painting are imitations, but the medium of poet
and painter are different. The medium of painter is colour and form and the medium of
poet is rhythm and harmony.
8. 8. OBJECTS OF POETIC IMITATION • The objects of poetic imitation are men in
action. These men may be either better or lower than the average men in real life. Thus,
imitation in poetry is clearly distinct from photographic representation. It involves
creative imagination and the intellectual faulty of the poet. Tragedy and epic deal with
men better than men in real life. Comedy and satire deal with men worse or lower than
men in real life.