Introduction on Mimetic Theory

    With the passage of time, new thought are emerged and the old and either altered or at least, revised. Hence, emergence of various theories is possible. Regarding the emergence of theorists, M. H. Abrams divides the literary theories as Mimetic, Pragmatic, Expressive and Objective. Accordingly, Hazard Adams phases out the history of philosophy and literary criticism as Ontological, Epistemological, Linguistic and Socio-cultural.

    Mimesis, the Greek word of imitation, has been a center term in aesthetic and literary theory since Plato. It is the earlier way to judge any work of art in relation to reality whether the representation is accurate or not. Though this mode starts from Plato, it runs through many great theorists of Renaissance up to some modern theorists as well. M. H. Abrams defines imitation as a relational term- signifying two items and correspondence between them. A literary work is taken to be reproducing an external reality or any aspect of it, and mimetic criticism insists on the issue that literary work does not reflect reality as such.

    Greek mimetic school is based upon the ideas expressed by Plato and Aristotle. Plato regards the artist as an imitator of imitations; the painter’s work is thrice removed from the “essential nature” of a thing: the artist imitates the physical object, which is a faint copy of ideas of the thing. Plato claims that ordinary art effects badly on the audience because it represents imagination rather than truth, and nourishes their feeling rather than reason. Aristotle, on the other hand, treats imitation as a basic human faculty, which expresses itself in a wide range of arts. For him, to imitate is not to produce a copy or mirror reflection of some things but involves a complex mediation of reality. For example, in tragedy the writer imitates people’s actions rather than their characters. For him, this world is real but incomplete so poet endeavors to complete it through the imitation. Thus, poets are both imitators and creator. In contrast to him, Plato opines that artists lack creative power.

    This school also imitates the external world but the imitation is of father poets like- Greek and ancient poets, and on purpose. This school takes imitation to be just an instrument to get to the purpose or destination; that is to teach and delight readers. For the poets of this school, purpose is more important than imitation. So, they have more of Pragmatic tendency than Mimetic effect. How ever, they can never be isolated form Mimetic theory. Horace and Longinus are the representative figure of this school.

Plato    Plato is the first major figure in the history of western philosophy. He is an idealist, moralist and a rationalist. He locates reality in what he calls ideas or forms rather than the world of appearance that we locate with our senses. Plato believes in the idea that is form which itself is formless but it is fixed. Idea is archetype and always remains the same. Reality can’t be found in the world of appearance but in the ideal world. Read More...

Aristotle    Aristotle’s poetics is a reply to Plato’s Republic. Plato believes in two word but Aristotle believes in only one word, therefore he is monoist not a dualist for him it is nature that contains truth. He defines art is perfecting the imperfect nature. For him art is an imitation with beautification. Art is the imitation of object beautifying nature. No matter artist imitate but they make better world than what it is so artist is not merely imitator but also creator.Aristotle avoids the idea that the world of appearance is merely an ephemeral copy of the changeless ideas. Read More..

Plotinus    Plotinus, neo- platonic philosopher believes in two worlds, two part of the same world, one part is helpful to go to another world. Plotinus challenges Plato’s theory that art imitates nature and is thus twice removed from the essence or reality. He gives a higher position to art in his system. Plotinus believes that everything emanates from the one and strives to return to it. Read More...

Lodovico Castelverto    Castelvetro is a good commentator on Aristotle’s poetics. In his treatment of the unity of time, his ideas are more rigid than Aristotle later followed by many neo- classical critics.Aristotle holds that the science, the art and history are not subject of poetry. Read More...

John Dryden    John Dryden’s present essay “An essay on Dramatic Poesy” gives an explicit account of neo – classical theory of art in general. He defends the classical drama standing on the line of Aristotle saying it is an imitation of life, and reflects human nature clearly.He also discusses the three unities, rules that require a play take place in one place, during one day, and that it develops one single action or plot. Read More...

Thomas Love Peacock       The essay “The Four Ages of Poetry” exposes the deficiencies of modern poetry by positing the theory that in its development poetry passed through four ages: Age of Iron, Age of Gold, Age of Silver, and Age of Brass. Read More...

Oscar Wilde    Oscar Wilde believes that art does not copy life and nature rather constitutes its own world reality independent in to a new and perfect form. Therefore, art is not a mere copy of nature rather it is the creative force of humanity. Read More...

Emile Zola     Emile Zola is a French theorist and an advocator of naturalism; a scientific study of human nature, behaviour and psychology. Naturalism is an artistic movement emerged in the reaction of subjectivism of Romanticism. Read More...