Humanitext Reader

Aristotle · Poetics §3.1-3.6

The Manner of Imitation and the Origins of Drama

Passage 3 of 28 · Greek

Summary

Introduces the third difference of imitation, namely the manner (how) of representation, contrasting narrative and dramatic modes. It also discusses the etymological claims raised by the Dorians concerning the origin of tragedy and comedy.

§3.1ἔτι δὲ τούτων τρίτη διαφορὰ τὸ ὡς ἕκαστα τούτων μιμήσαιτο ἄν τις.
And further, a third difference among these is the manner in which one might imitate each of them.
§3.2καὶ γὰρ ἐν τοῖς αὐτοῖς καὶ τὰ αὐτὰ μιμεῖσθαι ἔστιν ὁτὲ μὲν ἀπαγγέλλοντα, ἢ ἕτερόν τι γιγνόμενον ὥσπερ Ὅμηρος ποιεῖ ἢ ὡς τὸν αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ μεταβάλλοντα, ἢ πάντας ὡς πράττοντας καὶ ἐνεργοῦντας † τοὺς μιμουμένους †.
For indeed, within the same media and imitating the same objects, it is possible at times to do so by narrating—either by becoming someone else, as Homer does, or as remaining the same person and not changing—or by representing all as performing actions and being active.
§3.3ἐν τρισὶ δὴ ταύταις διαφοραῖς ἡ μίμησίς ἐστιν, ὡς εἴπομεν κατ’ ἀρχάς, ἐν οἷς τε καὶ ἃ καὶ ὥς.
Indeed, as we said at the beginning, imitation exists in these three differences: in the media, the objects, and the manner.
§3.4ὥστε τῇ μὲν ὁ αὐτὸς ἂν εἴη μιμητὴς Ὁμήρῳ Σοφοκλῆς, μιμοῦνται γὰρ ἄμφω σπουδαίους, τῇ δὲ Ἀριστοφάνει, πράττοντας γὰρ μιμοῦνται καὶ δρῶντας ἄμφω.
So that, in one respect, Sophocles would be the same kind of imitator as Homer, for both imitate superior people; but in another respect, the same as Aristophanes, for both imitate people performing actions and doing things.
ὅθεν καὶ δράματα καλεῖσθαί τινες αὐτά φασιν, ὅτι μιμοῦνται δρῶντας.
Hence some say that these works are also called 'dramas', because they imitate people doing things.
§3.5διὸ καὶ ἀντιποιοῦνται τῆς τε τραγῳδίας καὶ τῆς κωμῳδίας οἱ Δωριεῖς (τῆς μὲν γὰρ κωμῳδίας οἱ Μεγαρεῖς οἵ τε ἐνταῦθα ὡς ἐπὶ τῆς παρ’ αὐτοῖς δημοκρατίας γενομένης καὶ οἱ ἐκ Σικελίας, ἐκεῖθεν γὰρ ἦν Ἐπίχαρμος ὁ ποιητὴς πολλῷ πρότερος ὢν Χιωνίδου καὶ Μάγνητος· καὶ τῆς τραγῳδίας ἔνιοι τῶν ἐν Πελοποννήσῳ) ποιούμενοι τὰ ὀνόματα σημεῖον·
For this reason also the Dorians lay claim to both tragedy and comedy (for comedy is claimed by the Megarians—both those here, on the grounds that it arose during the time of their democracy, and those in Sicily, since the poet Epicharmus was from there, who was much earlier than Chionides and Magnes; and tragedy is claimed by some of those in the Peloponnese), making the names their evidence.
§3.6αὐτοὶ μὲν γὰρ κώμας τὰς περιοικίδας καλεῖν φασιν, Ἀθηναίους δὲ δήμους, ὡς κωμῳδοὺς οὐκ ἀπὸ τοῦ κωμάζειν λεχθέντας ἀλλὰ τῇ κατὰ κώμας πλάνῃ ἀτιμαζομένους ἐκ τοῦ ἄστεως·
For they say that they themselves call outlying villages *komai*, whereas the Athenians call them *demoi*, on the assumption that comedians (*komodoi*) were so named not from revelling (*komazein*) but because they wandered through the villages (*komai*) when they were driven in dishonor from the city.
καὶ τὸ ποιεῖν αὐτοὶ μὲν δρᾶν, Ἀθηναίους δὲ πράττειν προσαγορεύειν.
And they say that they themselves use *dran* for 'to do', whereas the Athenians use *prattein*.
περὶ μὲν οὖν τῶν διαφορῶν καὶ πόσαι καὶ τίνες τῆς μιμήσεως εἰρήσθω ταῦτα.
Regarding the differences of imitation, then, both how many and what they are, let this suffice.

Notes

  1. 1448a20ὁτὲ μὲν ἀπαγγέλλοντα — This accusative participle modifies the implied subject (in the accusative) of the infinitive μιμεῖσθαι (1448a20). It stands in parallel with the subsequent expressions: ἢ ἕτερόν τι γιγνόμενον ('either by becoming someone else'), ἢ ὡς τὸν αὐτόν... ('or as remaining the same'), and ἢ πάντας ὡς πράττοντας... ('or by representing all as performing actions').
  2. 1448a30ὡς ἐπὶ τῆς παρ’ αὐτοῖς δημοκρατίας γενομένης — A genitive absolute construction introduced by ὡς. The conjunction ὡς marks the subjective claim or reason offered by the Megarians ('on the grounds that comedy arose during the time of their democracy').
  3. 1448b1ὡς κωμῳδοὺς οὐκ ἀπὸ τοῦ κωμάζειν λεχθέντας — A construction of ὡς with an accusative participle (λεχθέντας), expressing the subjective reason or belief of the Dorians. The accusative case is used because it depends on the indirect speech construction implied by φασιν.

Cite this passage

Aristotle, Poetics §3.1-3.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg034.humanitext-grc2:3.1-3.6

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