Poetics by Aristotle (translated by Malcolm Heath) by Aristotle

In this account of classical Greek tragedy, Aristotle examines plot, character, language and spectacle, and asks why audiences take pleasure in pity and fear.

Drawing on plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, it introduces concepts such as mimesis, hamartia and katharsis. This Penguin Classics edition is translated by Malcolm Heath.