Mimesis - Revision history

Sjenkins at 00:45, 24 February 2006

2006-02-24T00:45:31Z

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	Barnhart, Clarence. ''The New Century Handbook of English Literature.'' New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1956.		Barnhart, Clarence. ''The New Century Handbook of English Literature.'' New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1956.

	Drabble, Margaret. ''The Oxford Companion to English Literature Fifth Edition.'' London: Oxford University Press, 1985.		Drabble, Margaret. ''The Oxford Companion to English Literature.'' Fifth Edition. London: Oxford University Press, 1985.

	Hart, Thomas. ''World Literature in the 20th Century.'' New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1974.		Hart, Thomas. ''World Literature in the 20th Century.'' New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1974.

Sjenkins: /* Mimesis */

2006-02-22T21:06:18Z

Mimesis

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	~~== Mimesis ==~~

	Mimesis is a Greek word meaning imitation or representation. It originates from the root word mime, which means an imitator, a mimic actor. "Mimesis is a dramatic entertainment among the ancient Greeks of Sicily and southern Italy and the Romans, consisting generally of farcical mimicry of real events and persons" (Barnhart 770).		Mimesis is a Greek word meaning imitation or representation. It originates from the root word mime, which means an imitator, a mimic actor. "Mimesis is a dramatic entertainment among the ancient Greeks of Sicily and southern Italy and the Romans, consisting generally of farcical mimicry of real events and persons" (Barnhart 770).

	In Plato's ''Republic'', mimesis is used to designate imitation, but in a derogatory way. The term is given a rigorous, postitive meaning in Aristotle's ''Poetics'' where it is used to describe a process of selection and representation appropriate to tragedy: 'the imitation of an action'. Mimesis has frequently been associated with the term realism, and with the capacity of language to reflect reality.		In Plato's ''Republic'', mimesis is used to designate imitation, but in a derogatory way. The term is given a rigorous, postitive meaning in Aristotle's ''Poetics'' where it is used to describe a process of selection and representation appropriate to tragedy: 'the imitation of an action'. Mimesis has frequently been associated with the term realism, and with the capacity of language to reflect reality.

	Erich Auerbach's best known work, ''Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature'', was first published in German in 1946. The book consists of a wide-ranging discussion taking texts from Shakespeare's ''Hamlet'', and other authors' works to explore the classical doctrine of levels of representation. "The analyses in turn, serve to trace the development in Western literature of Auerbach's own highly individual conception of realism: a serious, even tragic, presentation of everyday life, with full attention both to its sensuous immediacy and to the specific qualities of a particular historical moment" (Hart 68).		Erich Auerbach's best known work, ''Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature'', was first published in German in 1946. The book consists of a wide-ranging discussion taking texts from Shakespeare's ''Hamlet'', and other authors' works to explore the classical doctrine of levels of representation. "The analyses in turn, serve to trace the development in Western literature of Auerbach's own highly individual conception of realism: a serious, even tragic, presentation of everyday life, with full attention both to its sensuous immediacy and to the specific qualities of a particular historical moment" (Hart 68).



	== Works Cited ==		== Works Cited ==

Sjenkins at 21:05, 22 February 2006

2006-02-22T21:05:42Z

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			== Mimesis ==

	Mimesis is a Greek word meaning imitation or representation. It originates from the root word mime, which means an imitator, a mimic actor. "Mimesis is a dramatic entertainment among the ancient Greeks of Sicily and southern Italy and the Romans, consisting generally of farcical mimicry of real events and persons" (Barnhart 770).		Mimesis is a Greek word meaning imitation or representation. It originates from the root word mime, which means an imitator, a mimic actor. "Mimesis is a dramatic entertainment among the ancient Greeks of Sicily and southern Italy and the Romans, consisting generally of farcical mimicry of real events and persons" (Barnhart 770).

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	Works Cited
			== Works Cited ==


	Auerbach, Erich. ''Mimesis, The Representation of Reality in Western Literature.''Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1953.		Auerbach, Erich. ''Mimesis, The Representation of Reality in Western Literature.''Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1953.

Sjenkins at 19:42, 21 February 2006

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	~~The~~ Greek word ~~for~~ imitation or representation. ~~Aristole~~ used ~~the~~ term to ~~define~~ the ~~role~~ of ~~art as~~ an ~~"imitation~~ of ~~nature"(~~Auerbach,~~314)~~. ~~Northrup Frye used it more for~~ works ~~that imitate characters on~~ a ~~human level~~, ~~contrary~~ to ~~super-human epic hero~~ (~~Veitch, 225~~).		Mimesis is a Greek word meaning imitation or representation. It originates from the root word mime, which means an imitator, a mimic actor. "Mimesis is a dramatic entertainment among the ancient Greeks of Sicily and southern Italy and the Romans, consisting generally of farcical mimicry of real events and persons" (Barnhart 770).

			In Plato's ''Republic'', mimesis is used to designate imitation, but in a derogatory way. The term is given a rigorous, postitive meaning in Aristotle's ''Poetics'' where it is used to describe a process of selection and representation appropriate to tragedy: 'the imitation of an action'. Mimesis has frequently been associated with the term realism, and with the capacity of language to reflect reality.

			Erich Auerbach's best known work, ''Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature'', was first published in German in 1946. The book consists of a wide-ranging discussion taking texts from Shakespeare's ''Hamlet'', and other authors' works to explore the classical doctrine of levels of representation. "The analyses in turn, serve to trace the development in Western literature of Auerbach's own highly individual conception of realism: a serious, even tragic, presentation of everyday life, with full attention both to its sensuous immediacy and to the specific qualities of a particular historical moment" (Hart 68).


	Works Cited		Works Cited

	~~Veitch~~, ~~Jonathan~~. ''~~American Superrealism~~.'' ~~Madison~~: University ~~of Wisconsin~~ Press, ~~1997~~.		Auerbach, Erich. ''Mimesis, The Representation of Reality in Western Literature.''Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1953.

	~~Auerbach~~, ~~Erich~~. ''~~Mimesis~~, The ~~Representation of Reality~~ in ~~Western Literature~~.''~~Princeton~~: ~~Princeton~~ University Press, ~~1953~~.		Barnhart, Clarence. ''The New Century Handbook of English Literature.'' New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1956.

			Drabble, Margaret. ''The Oxford Companion to English Literature Fifth Edition.'' London: Oxford University Press, 1985.

			Hart, Thomas. ''World Literature in the 20th Century.'' New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1974.

			Veitch, Jonathan. ''American Superrealism.'' Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1997.

			Wynne-Davis, Marion. ''Prentice Hall Guide to English Literature.'' New York: Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd., 1990.

Sjenkins at 21:50, 16 February 2006

2006-02-16T21:50:20Z

New page

The Greek word for imitation or representation. Aristole used the term to define the role of art as an "imitation of nature"(Auerbach,314). Northrup Frye used it more for works that imitate characters on a human level, contrary to super-human epic hero (Veitch, 225).

Works Cited

Veitch, Jonathan. ''American Superrealism.'' Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1997.

Auerbach, Erich. ''Mimesis, The Representation of Reality in Western Literature.''Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1953.