The Evidence from Poetics 21

Abstract

This chapter attempts to expand our knowledge of Aristotle’s Homeric Problems through an examination in context of a select number of references to Homer in Aristotle’s Poetics 21. This chapter consists of a classification of the kinds of names or words, with a view to analyzing tragedy and epic poetry. The focus is particularly on the longest and most important section, words classified according to usage or form (that is, words that are foreign, made-up, lengthened, shortened, or altered). The chapter shows that there can be little doubt that the content of Poetics 21 reflects material that also appeared in the Homeric Problems.