The Neoclassical Ideal

Suddenly Aristotle's "Poetics" is rediscovered and published in a Latin version in 1498. His ideas are used as "rules" to be followed by future playwrights. Neo means "new." Neoclassical, therefore, means a new version of the classical (or Greek) style.

The Neoclassical ideas were:

Verisimilitude

Confidants

Styles of Tragedy and Comedy

The Three Unities

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