HORACE

          Quintus Horatius Flaccus or Horace who was the chief spokesman of the Ancient in the battle between the Ancients and modern was lived in 65 BC to 8 BC in the Glorious Augustine age. It was an age of peace and two Scholars of writing in those days; the old Latin and Modern Alexandrian such as Horace, Virgil, Livy etc. turned to literature to achieve distinctions.

 "Among Roman poets he was the best critic, and of all the Roman critics he was the best poet" is a quote  about Horace who ranked next only to Virgil and classed equal to Aristotle. Mainly he wrote two books of satires, four books of Odes and Ars Poetica / Art of poetry. This was his chief critical work which caused to begin a new tradition in literary criticism.

          When we consider about Horace's observation of poetry and drama Ars Poetica takes an inimitable place. It is a letter in verse by original Latin that offering advice on literary matters to a father and two sons of the naming Piso. It mainly about poetry, poetic style and drama using less than 500 lines in the Poetic form. Moreover it can be divided into three parts.

1. Poesis - Subject matter of poetry

2. Poema - Form of poetry 

3. Poeta - The poet

          His observation of poetry can be analyzed under several sections; its nature, function, subject matter, kinds, language and its nature and art.

          According to nature of poetry, he said that writing poem is not an inspiration it's only Madness. And he believed that poetry is not mere imitation alone. As well as he didn't like too much fancy due to too much fancy can make something unbelievable. Horace stated that the function of poetry is both instruct and Delight. Therefore, he moved one step ahead Plato and Aristotle. Its subject matter should be Universal and Poets should choose a theme suited to his powers, and should consider what weight his shoulder refuse to bear and support. Under his observation, poetry has "settled kinds" with an appropriate metre. When a poet use language that poet is free to use both "familiar words" and "new ones" with clearness and effectiveness. Finally he also examines the question of the place of genius and art in the success of a poem. Genius as the natural talent and Art was meant training.

          Then he studied drama broadly under the three-heads; 

1. Plot,

2. Characterization 

3. Style

 Plot should be borrowed from familiar material to the audience and only relevant events of the story should be joined into an unbreakable union. They cannot be Supernatural things and if dramatist use horrible things, all should be reported instead bringing them directly on the stage. According to him a plot must keep Ancient Greek tradition and take clear attention of length of a play. 

"Neither shorter no longer than 5 acts" 

          Further, one scene must use no more than three characters and drama should follow the order; start, middle, end without any flashback. Thus the dramatist could either draw on the Ancient Greek legends or they can invent new characters while to be true to their tradition, to themselves or to consistent. Then he considered iambic meter as the most suitable style for drama for both tragedy and comedy.

          However with these all we can understand that Horace has closely followed Aristotle. But surprisingly there is no mention of the satire in his Ars Poetica. Though he has dealt earlier with satire using his two books Lucilius in Book I and II.

                                             By,

                                   ❤  Tharushi ❤