Aristotle's Poetics Lesson Plan

Criticism of Aristotle

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

Students will be able to consider the possible pitfalls of Aristotle's influence

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.1; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.1

Structure:

Students should have read the first chapter of Augusto Boal's Theater of the Oppressed for homework last night.

Discuss what criticisms Boal had of Aristotle; they focus in the main on the definition of tragedy students close-read on Day 2. For Boal, there is no "proper purgation of these emotions"; if emotions are purged, audiences don't feel they need to take any action about the events that the play is imitating, even if the...