Aristotle's Poetics Lesson Plan

What Was Poetry?

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

Students will be able to understand the types of art about which Aristotle was writing

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.1; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.7; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.8

Structure:

Although Aristotle is frequently used in much of the "Western" world as a universal theorist of art, he was, in fact, writing in and about a specific time and place. Ask students to first consider what they know about Greek theater and poetry. Are there any works they have heard of, read, or seen? What does that exposure tell them about Greek theater and art? What are they still wondering about?

Divide students into...