IMITATION

• The word imitation in Greek is ‘mimesis’• We cannot make a limitation or boundary to the

word imitation • The word imitation has a psychological relevance• All the actions in our life are the results of imitation • The word mimicry is derived from the word mimesis• We can divide imitation mainly into two as the

imitation of inward and outward activity

INWARD AND OUTWARD

• The ideas that we follow are the examples of inner imitation – Religious ideas and beliefs, culture based behaviour etc…

• Physically imitated things are the examples of outward imitation –Hair styles, dressing codes etc…

IMITATION IN LITERATURE

• In literature, the word imitation is firstly defined by Plato (He is the mentor of Aristotle). Aristotle then took the term ‘imitation’ and gave new dimensions and significance to the term .

PLATO’S IDEA OF IMITATION

• Plato divides arts into useful arts like medicine and agriculture and imitative arts like poetry and drama.

• IDEA was the truth or reality and the world is mere representation of reality.(imitation of reality)

• The objects before us are the imitation of reality.

• Poetry is the imitation of appearances, which are already the imitation of reality.•Poetry is twice removed from reality or truth. It is the shadow of shadows or the mother of lies.•Imagination is the other name of imitation.•Poetry becomes a dangerous rival to morality.•Milton’s epic poem ‘The Paradise Lost’.

ARISTOTLE’S CONCEPT OF IMITATION

• Aristotle gave new dimension and significance to the term imitation, which removed the sense of inferiority attached to it by Plato.

• Aristotle doesn’t pay more attention to morality like Plato in poetic imitation.

• Poetry is one of the fine arts.• Poetry is the reproduction in accordance with the poet’s

idea.• Poetry is not a mere copying but an act of creative

vision.• Through imitation, the poet can make something out of

the real and actual.

MEDIUM OF IMITATION

• All art is a type of imitation, but there are differences in the medium of imitation. Poetry and painting are imitations, but the medium of poet and painter are different. The medium of painter is colour and form and the medium of poet is rhythm and harmony.

OBJECTS OF POETIC IMITATION• The objects of poetic imitation are men in

action. These men may be either better or lower than the average men in real life. Thus, imitation in poetry is clearly distinct from photographic representation. It involves creative imagination and the intellectual faulty of the poet. Tragedy and epic deal with men better than men in real life. Comedy and satire deal with men worse or lower than men in real life.

THE END