Aristotle's Poetics
Aristotle
Didn’t age well
I read Aristotle's Poetics because I was hoping to find out more about the classical definition of lyric poetry. As it turns out, that part of the Poetics has been lost. Aristotle divides the art of poetry into verse drama, lyric poetry, and epic poetry. The surviving part is mostly concerned with tragedy.
So how is that? Well, it is, in my opinion best summarized by the phrase "That didn't age well." (I am, of course, entirely aware that I have convinced 90% of you that I am a Philistine, too stupid and ignorant to be capable of understanding Aristotle. Please stop reading now and go away. You don't want my opinion, and I don't want yours.) There are occasional useful ideas in here, but the frequency is at or below "stopped clock" levels.
Unfortunately, this is one of these documents you have to read because a lot of other people have read it, or have listened to someone who claims to have read it. They will throw it at you, and you have to be able to defend yourself.