Mimesis and the Human Animal

by Robert Storey

Published 16 December 1996
In this study, the author argues that human culture derives from human biology and that literary representation therefore must have a biological basis. As he ponders the question ""What does it mean to say that art imitates life?"" he must consider both ""What is life?"" and ""What is art?"". Part 1 addresses issues of human biology, psyche and language; Part 2 applies the model sketched out in Part 1 to various narratives: tragedy, comedy and the novel.