4
Moreover, the standard of what is correct is not the same in the art of poetry as it is in the art of social conduct or any other art.
5
In the actual art of poetry there are two kinds of errors, essential and accidental.
6
If a man meant to represent something and failed through incapacity, that is an essential error. But if his error is due to his original conception being wrong and his portraying, for example, a horse advancing both its right legs, that is then a technical error in some special branch of knowledge,in medicine, say, or whatever it may be; or else some sort of impossibility has been portrayed, but that is not an essential error.
7
These considerations must, then, be kept in view in meeting the charges contained in these objections.
7
Let us first take the charges against the art of poetry itself. If an impossibility has been portrayed, an error has been made.
8
But it is justifiable if the poet thus achieves the object of poetry—what that is has been already stated—and makes that part or some other part of the poem more striking. The pursuit of Hector is an example of this.See Aristot. Poet. 24.16 and note.
9
If, however, the object could have been achieved better or just as well without sacrifice of technical accuracy, then it is not justifiable, for, if possible, there should be no error at all in any part of the poem.
