Renaissance poetics: Imitation and imagination

Abstract

Renaissance conception of poetics is discussed in this paper with respect to emphasized importance of imagination and innovation in the process of creation of the work of art. The importance of imagination is directly opposed to the Aristotelian concept of imitation, and its primacy shows the Aristotle's influence on Renaissance understanding of poetics, as well as its specific character made possible through the rejection of Aristotle. The development of an understanding of imagination as the origin of poetry in this paper is, in addition to the consideration of the concept of imitation, discussed with respect to the question of aesthetic pleasure, and to the issues of truth and morality.