Meticulously enquiring into the emotional bent of man and his psychological reactions, Aristotle's Poetics discusses the origins of epic poetry and examines all poetry as being a form of imitation. It explores the various components of tragedy-plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song-and its effects.

A masterpiece of literary criticism, Poetics has majorly influenced literary theories. Even after centuries it continues to remain an evaluation benchmark for literature.