The section of Aristotle’s Poetics that specifically addressed comedy theory has been lost over time. We do not know exactly when or how it was lost, but it is believed to have been missing for centuries. What we have today is a collection of Aristotle’s surviving works, including the Poetics, which only contains a few brief references to comedy. In these references, Aristotle discusses the basic characteristics of comedy, such as its focus on lowly characters and everyday situations, as well as its use of ridicule and irony.
What we have today is a collection of Aristotle’s surviving works, including the Poetics, which only contains a few brief references to comedy. In these references, Aristotle discusses the basic characteristics of comedy, such as its focus on lowly characters and everyday situations, as well as its use of ridicule and irony.
Despite the loss of the section on comedy theory, Aristotle’s work on tragedy in the Poetics has been highly influential in the study of literature and drama. It has provided a framework for analyzing tragedy that has been used by scholars and playwrights for centuries. While it would have been fascinating to see what Aristotle had to say about comedy in more detail, we will likely never know for certain what his complete thoughts on the subject were.
Theories about Aristotle’s Lost Thoughts
The lost section of Aristotle’s Poetics that addressed comedy theory is a subject of much speculation among scholars. However, one major theory suggests that Aristotle’s discussion of comedy focused on the concept of “incongruity.”
According to this theory, Aristotle may have argued that comedy arises from the incongruity between our expectations of a situation and what actually happens. In other words, a comedic situation occurs when there is a discrepancy between what we anticipate and what actually unfolds. For example, a character may be portrayed as overly confident or foolish, and the audience finds humor in the contrast between their expectations and the character’s actual behavior.
Another theory proposes that Aristotle’s discussion of comedy focused on the idea of “character flaws.” This theory suggests that Aristotle may have argued that comedy arises from the flaws and weaknesses of the characters involved, and that these flaws are often what make them funny. In this view, the audience finds humor in the shortcomings of the characters, and their failures and mistakes become a source of amusement.
Ultimately, because the section of the Poetics that addressed comedy theory has been lost, we cannot know for certain what Aristotle’s views on the subject were. However, these and other theories provide valuable insights into what Aristotle might have said about the nature of comedy and its role in ancient Greek theater.
