The Poetics (Aristotle)

Aristotle’s "The Poetics" analyzes how tragedies and stories evoke emotions like pity and fear, leading to a catharsis or emotional cleansing. He emphasizes the importance of plot, character, and language, noting that a compelling story should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, with well-developed characters. Aristotle also discusses the concept of "mimesis," or imitation, meaning stories reflect real life. His work aims to understand what makes stories emotionally impactful and artistically effective, providing principles that continue to influence literature, theater, and storytelling today.