The Poetics (by Aristotle)

Aristotle's "The Poetics" is a foundational work that analyzes how stories, especially tragedies, evoke emotions and create meaning. It explains key elements like plot, character, theme, diction, and spectacle, emphasizing that a good story should have a clear structure, relatable characters, and evoke feelings of pity and fear to lead to catharsis—emotional cleansing. Aristotle also discusses the importance of unity in a story and how the sequence of events should be logically arranged to maximize emotional impact. Overall, it offers insights into what makes a story compelling and effective in conveying human experiences.