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Aristotle · Poetics §10.1-10.4

Simple and Complex Plots and Causal Necessity

Passage 11 of 28 · Greek

Summary

Aristotle classifies plots into simple and complex, defining the former as transitions without reversal or recognition and the latter as those containing them. He emphasizes that these incidents must arise from the structure of the plot by necessity or probability, distinguishing causal relation from mere chronological succession.

§10.1εἰσὶ δὲ τῶν μύθων οἱ μὲν ἁπλοῖ οἱ δὲ πεπλεγμένοι· καὶ γὰρ αἱ πράξεις ὧν μιμήσεις οἱ μῦθοί εἰσιν ὑπάρχουσιν εὐθὺς οὖσαι τοιαῦται.
Of plots, some are simple and others are complex; for the actions indeed of which the plots are imitations are already from the start of this very character.
§10.2λέγω δὲ ἁπλῆν μὲν πρᾶξιν ἧς γινομένης ὥσπερ ὥρισται συνεχοῦς καὶ μιᾶς ἄνευ περιπετείας ἢ ἀναγνωρισμοῦ ἡ μετάβασις γίνεται, §10.3πεπλεγμένην δὲ ἐξ ἧς μετὰ ἀναγνωρισμοῦ ἢ περιπετείας ἢ ἀμφοῖν ἡ μετάβασίς ἐστιν.
I call that action simple which, as it proceeds in a continuous and single course as defined, has its transition occur without reversal or recognition; and complex, that action from which the transition occurs with recognition or reversal or both.
§10.4ταῦτα δὲ δεῖ γίνεσθαι ἐξ αὐτῆς τῆς συστάσεως τοῦ μύθου, ὥστε ἐκ τῶν προγεγενημένων συμβαίνειν ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἢ κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς γίγνεσθαι ταῦτα· διαφέρει γὰρ πολὺ τὸ γίγνεσθαι τάδε διὰ τάδε ἢ μετὰ τάδε.
These things must arise from the very constitution of the plot, so that they result from what has gone before, occurring either of necessity or according to probability; for there is a great difference between something happening "because of this" or "after this."

Notes

  1. ¦15¦ἧς γινομένης ... συνεχοῦς καὶ μιᾶς — A genitive absolute construction where the relative pronoun ἧς (referring back to πρᾶξις) serves as the subject. The present participle γινομένης and the adjectives συνεχοῦς καὶ μιᾶς agree with ἧς, establishing the circumstance: 'while the action proceeds in a continuous and single course as defined.' The main subject of the clause is the subsequent ἡ μετάβασις.
  2. ¦20¦τὸ γίγνεσθαι τάδε διὰ τάδε ἢ μετὰ τάδε — The articular infinitive τὸ γίγνεσθαι forms a nominal subject clause, with the accusative neuter plural τάδε (these things) acting as its subject. The contrast between the prepositional phrases διὰ τάδε (because of these: causal relation) and μετὰ τάδε (after these: chronological succession) underscores the critical importance of logical causality in plot construction.

Cite this passage

Aristotle, Poetics §10.1-10.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg034.humanitext-grc2:10.1-10.4

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