Poetics Group

Question:

a-chan
a-chan
Student
College - Junior

What is Aristotle's point in distinguishing between the possible and probable? How does this distinction relate to other aspects of his discussion?

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Posted by a-chan on Sunday March 30, 2008 at 4:50 PM and tagged with aristotle, poetics, possible, probable.

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  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    This distinction relates to Aristotle's evaluation of plots, and to his points regarding unity. As he says, " Of all plots and actions the episodic are the worst. I call a plot 'episodic' in which the episodes or acts succeed one another without probable or necessary sequence." The episodic plot would be possible; it might happen that these events would follow one another. However, they would not be "probable or necessary," and so would not create unity. Nor would they provide insight into universal laws and characters, which Aristotle sees as the poet's task (and opportunity).

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/poetics-salem/poetics

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    Posted by gbeatty on Monday September 1, 2008 at 12:44 PM