Runousoppi

by Aristotle

"Runousoppi" by Aristotle is a philosophical treatise written around 335 BCE. This pioneering work examines the art of poetry, focusing primarily on dramatic forms including tragedy, comedy, and epic. Aristotle analyzes how these genres imitate life through differences in rhythm, character, and narrative presentation. The surviving text concentrates on tragedy's construction, introducing influential concepts like catharsis and exploring what makes poetry philosophically superior to history. This foundational work established principles for literary criticism that continue to shape Western understanding of dramatic art.