Rules and Principles of a Poet Mentioned in ARS POETICA by Horace [Roman Critic].
Horace formulated his critical theory in ARS POETICA, known as the ART OF POETRY. He followed the ancient classical line. He advised the would be writers to follow Greek models rigorously and faithfully:
Be Homer's works your study and delight,
Read them by day, and meditate by night.
His ARS POETICA is a compendium of rules and principles which poets should follow. It deals with the art of poetry under three heads:
a) Poesis or the subject-matter
b) Poema or form, and,c) Poeta or the poet.
Poetry according to Horace, is a combination of fact and fiction, which both insructs and pleases the reader. Thus the function of poetry is "to instruct and to delight." The nature of poetry is "to charm the mind." The poetic composition must have unity of design. Horace remarks, "He who chooses his subject wisely will find that neither words nor lucid arrangement fail him" for "sound judgement is the basis and sourse of good writing."
1) Subject Matter for Great Poetry
According to Horace subject matter of poetry should take the model from life and customs. But this imitation should be enriched with imagination or even with some 'believable false'.
2) Function of Poetry
Poets should inculcate a love of all that is noble in life so that our young men, like persons who live in a healthy place, may be perpetually influenced for good. He further says, "for poems to have beauty, they must also be pleasing and lead the listener's soul whither they will."
3) Theme of Poetry
The theme of poetry should be "simple and uniform."
4) Meter and Language of Poetry
