ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Plato and Aristotle spoke of mimesis as the re-presentation of nature. According to Plato, all artistic creation is a form of imitation: that which really exists (in the “world of ideas”) is a type created by God; the concrete things man perceives in his existence are shadowy representations of this ideal type.

Detailed explanation-2: -For Plato mimesis is the appearance of the external image of things. In his view, reality was not to be found in the world of the objects but in the realm of the Ideas. Therefore, Plato sees in the arts an occupation that is inferior to science and philosophy, but that is also a potential source of corruption.

Detailed explanation-3: -Plato contrasted mimesis, or imitation, with diegesis, or narrative.

Detailed explanation-4: -Mimesis of representation means mimesis, or imitation, of external things-art, speech, mannerisms, dress, etc. Mimetic desire, the real innovation of Girard, means that what is being imitated is not any kind of superficial, external representation but desires themselves.

Detailed explanation-5: -Aristotle agrees with Plato in calling the poet an imitator and creative art, imitation. He imitates one of the three objects – things as they were/are, things as they are said/thought to be or things as they ought to be. In other words, he imitates what is past or present, what is commonly believed and what is ideal.