Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Unlike Plato, Aristotle considers that poetry at its best requires great skill, and also differentiates between good and bad poetry on clear and systematic aesthetic grounds.
Statement II: Aristotle accepts Plato’s insight that the emotions are important to poetry, but rejects Plato’s distrust of the emotions.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer given below:

The correct option is Both Statement I and Statement II are true.

Explanation of Statement I:
Plato famously harbored a deep suspicion of poetry and art, viewing them as mere imitations of imitations (twice removed from reality) that appeal to the irrational parts of the soul. In his view, poetry did not necessarily require systematic aesthetic skill but was often a form of divine madness or uncritical inspiration. In contrast, Aristotle, in his seminal work Poetics, defends poetry as a craft or science (techne). Aristotle argues that poetry at its best requires immense skill, structure, and technique. He provides clear, systematic, and aesthetic criteria to differentiate between good and bad poetry, analyzing components such as plot (mythos), character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song. Therefore, Statement I is true.

Explanation of Statement II:
Plato distrusted the emotions excited by poetry, arguing in the Republic that poetry waters and fosters the passions instead of drying them up, thereby threatening the rational governance of the self and the state. Aristotle accepts Plato's insight that poetry inherently engages and evokes strong emotions. However, he rejects Plato's negative appraisal and distrust of these emotions. Instead, Aristotle introduces the concept of catharsis (purgation or clarification), suggesting that by experiencing emotions like pity and fear through tragedy, the audience undergoes a healthy emotional release and purification. Thus, the emotional engagement of poetry is seen by Aristotle as beneficial and therapeutic rather than corrupting. Therefore, Statement II is true.