Tragedy, Plot, Fiction: A Study of Sameness and How You May Have Been Duped

Abstract

This article provides a textual analysis of Aristotle's Poetics (2011) and how it has affected the ways that plot is discussed in creative writing handbooks, especially in regards to fiction writing. Nearly all of the handbooks selected for this article have moved beyond first editions, suggesting they are used both in creative writing classrooms and by creative writers. What is more, these handbooks span a period of nearly 40 years, which helps to represent the timelessness of some of the trends discussed herein. This research suggests there is a strong association between the writing espoused in creative writing handbooks and the antiquated tenets of Greek tragedy, though the relationship is rarely acknowledged. To ignore the relationship between Aristotle and contemporary handbooks on creative writing means we, as educators, run the risk of espousing a writing pedagogy without either questioning it or being aware of its origins. This is especially problematic because it is difficult to reflect on and make changes to a pedagogy if one does not know its origins, and a static pedagogy might as well be a dead one.