Poetics and Poetry

Poetics and Poetry

Aristotle (384 BCE – 322 BCE) was a very influential thinker and philosopher in Classic times, alongside other Ancient philosophers such as Plato and Socrates. Aristotle’s teachings continue to impact today’s philosophy and political science, such the governments’ classification table (tyranny, monarchy, oligarchy, aristocracy, democracy and polity). Interestingly, back then the word democracy had a pejorative connotation, and the fair rule of the people was better conveyed by the term polity. Along these lines, the following text is a brief excerpt from The Poetics: Aristotle on the Art of Poetry – the work has been placed in the public domain, as presented by Authorama.

The Poetics

Aristotle on the Art of Poetry

Our subject being Poetry, I propose to speak not only of the art in general but also of its species and their respective capacities; of the structure of plot required for a good poem; of the number and nature of the constituent parts of a poem; and likewise of any other matters in the same line of inquiry. Let us follow the natural order and begin with the primary facts.

A romantic castle (Casa Loma, Toronto). Photo by Elena

Epic poetry and Tragedy, as also Comedy, Dithyrambic poetry, and most flute-playing and lyre-playing, are all, viewed as a whole, modes of imitation. But at the same time they differ from one another in three ways, either by a difference of kind in their means, or by differences in the objects, or in the manner of their imitations.

I. Just as form and colour are used as means by some, who (whether by art or constant practice) imitate and portray many things by their aid, and the voice is used by others; so also in the above-mentioned group of arts, the means with them as a whole are rhythm, language, and harmony—used, however, either singly or in certain combinations.

A combination of rhythm and harmony alone is the means in flute-playing and lyre-playing, and any other arts there may be of the same description, e.g. imitative piping. Rhythm alone, without harmony, is the means in the dancer’s imitations; for even he, by the rhythms of his attitudes, may represent men’s characters, as well as what they do and suffer.

Open white flowers. Photo by Elena

There is further an art which imitates by language alone, without harmony, in prose or in verse, and if in verse, either in some one or in a plurality of metres. This form of imitation is to this day without a name. We have no common name for a mime of Sophron or Xenarchus and a Socratic Conversation; and we should still be without one even if the imitation in the two instances were in trimeters or elegiacs or some other kind of verse – though it is the way with people to tack on ’poet’ to the name of a metre, and talk of elegiac-poets and epic-poets, thinking that they call them poets not by reason of the imitative nature of their work, but indiscriminately by reason of the metre they write in.

Even if a theory of medicine or physical philosophy be put forth in a metrical form, it is usual to describe the writer in this way; Homer and Empedocles, however, have really nothing in common apart from their metre; so that, if the one is to be called a poet, the other should be termed a physicist rather than a poet. We should be in the same position also, if the imitation in these instances were in all the metres, like the Centaur (a rhapsody in a medley of all metres) of Chaeremon; and Chaeremon one has to recognize as a poet. So much, then, as to these arts.

There are, lastly, certain other arts, which combine all the means enumerated, rhythm, melody, and verse, e.g. Dithyrambic and Nomic poetry, Tragedy and Comedy; with this difference, however, that the three kinds of means are in some of them all employed together, and in others brought in separately, one after the other. These elements of difference in the above arts I term the means of their imitation.

Rain. Photo by Elena

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice

Many novelists have denounced the social injustices or described the intricacies of their times through published fiction. For example, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a 1813 novel, which has become part of classic literature and popular culture. The author also wrote Sense and Sensibility in 1811 under the pseudonym ‘A Lady’. Further, the smoldering British actress Keira Knightley portrayed Elizabeth Bennett, the narrative’s protagonist, in the 2005 movie adaptation, while a television series debuted in 1995, in addition to other prior and subsequent adaptations. The original, notorious work has overtime been placed into the public domain, as confirmed by Authorama. A short excerpt is presented below.

Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

An old bridge. Photo by Elena

“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

“Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.

“ – You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”

This was invitation enough.

“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.”

“What is his name?”

“Bingley.”

“Is he married or single?”

“Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!”

“How so? How can it affect them?”

“My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.”

“Is that his design in settling here?”

“Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.”

“I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party.”

“My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.”

“In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”

“But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.”

“It is more than I engage for, I assure you.”

“But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not.”

“You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.”

“I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference.”

A Victorian era building. Photo by Elena

“They have none of them much to recommend them,” replied he; “they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.”

“Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves.”

“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.”

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

Desert God

Desert God

A novel of ancient Egypt

By Wilbur Smith

On the following morning I rose before the sun and ate a hurried breakfast before I rode down the mountain to the Admiralty. I spent the entire day there arguing and negotiating with the vice admiral Herakal and his staff, all to very little avail. They offered me eight decrepit biremes which had clearly spent many years as trading ships and had now reached the limit of their useful life. With these they expected me to subdue the Hyksos hordes. I was learning that the Minoans in general were a sullen and difficult people, and extremely hostile toward strangers and foreigners. The only one I had met so far was an exception to this rule was Ambassador Toran. He was so affable and obliging that he could have been born an Egyptian.

That evening I rode back to my new home, spiritually exhausted and discouraged. I hardly tasted the meal of grilled lamb that the cook had prepared for me. However, a flagon of the delicious wine that Toran had laid down in my cellars gave me the strength to persevere and at dawn the next day I rode down the mountain to the Admiralty once more.

Desert God. Photo by Elena

It took all my bargaining skills, and some little assistance from Toran, but by the tenth day I had finally assembled a flotilla of six almost new three-deckers. The vice admiral had reluctantly given me experienced Minoan officers to sail them and hardened mercenaries drawn from among the savage tribes of northern Italia to crew them. These people called themselves Latins or Etruscans. Toran assured me that they were excellent sailors and fearsome warriors. With 120 of these savages aboard each of the triremes I was content that we could match any ship in the Hyksos fleet.

I ordered my new captains to sail around the island to the port of Krimad where Zaras and Hui were anchored with my Sumerian biremes ready for sea. From now onward this would be our main base of operations, from which we could strike at the enemy who were only six hundred leagues to the source: five days’ sailing with favorable winds.

The Media

The Media

Nowadays, the importance of media in our everyday life is greater than ever. Indeed with the rise of the Internet, the traditional forms of reaching audience – mostly newspapers, books, radio and television – have been joined by new media and devices.

Today, the world is interconnected, and our computers and phones allow us reach more people than ever before, spreading out information and making it more readily available than at any other point of history.

Traditional media don’t exist anymore, and the media world has changed drastically in recent years, with the introduction of social networks, blogs, citizen journalism and user interest websites.

“We have two ears, and one month so that we can listen twice as much as we speak”. (Epictetus, a Greek philosopher, circa A.D.100). Photo by Elena

Managing the media has become crucial in our lives. Imagine you have developed an innovative service that corresponds to the needs of the market. But you can’t reach your potential clients, you can’t expand your client network without developing an optimal promotion strategy. And that includes using wisely not only your skills and experiences, but also your iPhone and any other device.

Well, the traditionally “credible media” (doesn’t matter what these words really mean), – such as radio programs, TV, paper magazines or newspapers, – is still the place to be heard and seen.

But before connecting your phone and calling your potential client, you should ask yourself a few questions:

• Do I know what my story is before I contact a person? (people are interested in listening to you if you have a story to tell them, so be clear, work out what you need to tell);
• Am I speaking to the right person? (for instance, the person who answered might be an intern who has no power whatsoever apart from to try and stop you getting to the person you need to sell your story to, thus be nice and work out who you need to speak to);
• Am I too shy? Communicating can be spookily unnerving but try to overcome yourself;
• Try to give the impression that your vis-à-vis already knows, or should know, who you are – and if he (or she) doesn’t, he (she) is at fault and not you. But the only way to achieve this is through being polite, not by sounding arrogant;
• Focus on your idea, stick to the story, don’t talk too much about different items and the needs your family have. Don’t confuse the person you are talking to with too much information;
• Present yourself as someone who is worth putting in the other person contact book;
• Never embellish your words too much (but what is “too much”, anyway?), as you will get caught out and your credibility will be blown.

Cellular Division

Cellular Division

In ten years of independent work she has never achieved the level of metabolism for cellular division in a single sample.

Norma hurried to her data terminal and called up second by second analysis of the sample’s progress.

She watched in awe as the single cell duplicated itself. The thrill of possibility quickened her pulse Of course, she had to search for the potential cause, but it seemed it was relatively easy to find. An unusually high level of metallic hydrogen was present on the disc, which meant that he sample’s growth medium had been contaminated.

Cellular Division. Photo by Elena

She would have chided herself for her carelessness: clearly she had used one of the specimen containers meant for a forgotten and abandoned project. But this happy accident had shown her the path to what Norma was now convinced would lead to ultimate success. She imagined the life of a single flowering Generala Pazum – P, but it almost broke her heart to realize that she would likely never see it bloom.

Not because this creation was only meant to thrive in the most inhospitable of environments, but because she would be dead long before the specimen grew. A single tear slid down her face.

(From the number 1 SF novel The Rain, by Elena and George)