CHAPTER III.

ARISTOTLE.

Authorship of the criticism attributed to Aristotle 29

Its subject-matter 30

Abstract of the _Poetics_ 32

Characteristics, general 35

Limitations of range 36

Ethical twist 37

Drawbacks resulting 37

Overbalance of merit 38

The doctrine of ἁμαρτία 39

The _Rhetoric_ 39

Meaning and range of “Rhetoric” 40

The contents of the book 41

Attitude to _lexis_ 42

Vocabulary—“Figures” 43

A difficulty 44

“Frigidity” 44

Archaism 45

Stock epithet and periphrasis 45

False metaphor 46

Simile 46

“Purity” 46

“Elevation” 46

Propriety 46

Prose rhythm 47

Loose and periodic style, &c. 48

General effect of the _Rhetoric_ 48

The _Homeric Problems_ 49

Value of the two main treatises 51

Defects and drawbacks in the _Poetics_ 51

And in the _Rhetoric_ 52

Merits of both 53

The end of art: the οἰκεῖα ἡδονή 55

Theory of Action 55

And of ἁμαρτία 56

Of Poetic Diction 56

A history of criticism and literary taste in Europe, from the earliest texts to the present day. Volume 1 (of 3), Classical and mediæval criticism · 第 3 / 15 章