The term 'Hamartia' originates from the Greek verb 'hamartanein', which literally means 'to miss the mark' or 'to err'. In the context of Aristotelian tragedy, it refers to a mistake in judgment or an error that leads to the protagonist's downfall, rather than a moral failing or inherent sin.

Ethos is one of the three classical modes of persuasion defined by Aristotle. It refers to the character, credibility, and ethical appeal of the speaker or writer. By establishing their authority, expertise, and moral integrity, the writer builds trust with the audience, making their arguments more persuasive and convincing.

In his 'Poetics', Aristotle discusses the medium of imitation. He notes that while painting uses color and form, poetry, like music, utilizes rhythm, language, and harmony to imitate human action. Aristotle categorizes these arts based on their medium, object, and mode of imitation, placing poetry alongside music as a rhythmic art.

Aristotle's 'Poetics' is the earliest surviving work of dramatic theory. In this treatise, he defines the nature of tragedy, the concept of catharsis, and the importance of plot (mythos) over character (ethos). It has served as the primary framework for Western dramatic criticism for over two millennia, influencing countless playwrights and theorists throughout history.

The Latin phrase 'ut pictura poesis', derived from Horace's 'Ars Poetica', translates to 'as is painting, so is poetry.' It suggests that poetry should possess the same vivid, descriptive qualities as visual art, aiming to create mental images for the reader. This concept significantly influenced neoclassical aesthetics, encouraging poets to focus on clarity, imagery, and the mimetic representation of reality.

While 'liberal humanism' as a specific critical school is a modern construct, its roots are often traced back to classical thinkers like Aristotle, whose 'Poetics' established foundational ideas about mimesis, character, and the universal nature of art. These classical principles regarding the moral and aesthetic function of literature provided the bedrock upon which later humanistic traditions were built, emphasizing the study of universal human truths through canonical texts.

Aristotle studied at Plato's Academy in Athens for approximately twenty years. While he was deeply influenced by his teacher, Aristotle eventually diverged from Platonic idealism to develop his own empirical and systematic approach to philosophy, logic, and literary theory, establishing his own school known as the Lyceum.

George Saintsbury, a renowned English literary historian and critic, used this epithet to describe Aristotle, highlighting his foundational and authoritative influence on the history of literary criticism, much like Alexander the Great's dominance in the ancient world.

Pathos is a rhetorical strategy used to persuade an audience by appealing to their emotions. By evoking feelings such as pity, fear, anger, or joy, a writer can bypass logical resistance and create a deeper, more personal connection with the reader, thereby making the argument more compelling and memorable.

In his seminal work 'Poetics', Aristotle identifies 'mythos' or plot as the soul of tragedy. He argues that the arrangement of incidents is the most critical component, as it provides the structure through which the tragic action unfolds, catharsis is achieved, and the audience experiences the necessary emotions of pity and fear.