Aristotle’s Poetics c. 335 BC) is the earliest surviving work of dramatic theory and first extant philosophical treatise to focus on literary theory. In this text Aristotle offers an account of I I I I I I I I I , which refers to poetry or more literally "the poetic art, " deriving from the term for "poet; author; maker, " I I I I I I I . Aristotle divides the art of poetry into verse drama (to include comedy, tragedy, and the satyr play), lyric poetry, and epic.