Aristotle's Poetics c. 335 BC) is the earliest surviving work of dramatic theory and first extant philosophical treatise to focus on literary theory. In this text Aristotle offers an account of ?????????, which refers to poetry or more literally 'the poetic art,' deriving from the term for 'poet; author; maker,' ???????. Aristotle divides the art of poetry into verse drama (to include comedy, trag...