CHAPTER III.

ARISTOTLE.

Authorship of the criticism attributed to Aristotle 29 Its subject-matter 30 Abstract of the _Poetics_ 32 Characteristics, general 35 Limitations of range 36 Ethical twist 37 Drawbacks resulting 37 Overbalance of merit 38 The doctrine of ἁμαρτία 39 The _Rhetoric_ 39 Meaning and range of “Rhetoric” 40 The contents of the book 41 Attitude to _lexis_ 42 Vocabulary—“Figures” 43 A difficulty 44 “Frigidity” 44 Archaism 45 Stock epithet and periphrasis 45

False metaphor 46 Simile 46 “Purity” 46 “Elevation” 46 Propriety 46 Prose rhythm 47 Loose and periodic style, &c. 48 General effect of the _Rhetoric_ 48 The _Homeric Problems_ 49 Value of the two main treatises 51 Defects and drawbacks in the _Poetics_ 51 And in the _Rhetoric_ 52 Merits of both 53 The end of art: the οἰκεῖα ἡδονή 55 Theory of Action 55 And of ἁμαρτία 56 Of Poetic Diction 56