tics follows this latter course. Aristotle begins by making a statement of his purpose:
The subject I wish to discuss is poetry itself, its species with their respective capabilities, the correct way of constructing plots so that the work turns out well, the number and nature of the constituent elements [of each species], and anything else in the same field of inquiry (Ackrill 540).
In order to accomplish this, Aristotle begins by categorizing the various elements of his subject and by analyzing poetry in terms of what he sees as having been produced, tracing the elements in poetry back to basic ways of approaching material and to underlying purposes on the part of the poet or dramatist. Aristotle presents a clear analysis of poetry and drama, differentiating between the various kinds, showing the effects that are produced by drama and poetry and how those effects are achieved. His analysis begins, then, with the material itself an
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