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L'Art Poétique

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Oeuvres poétiques de Boileau Despréaux: art poétique / édition classique accompagnée de notes par N.-A. Dubois, ..
Date de l'édition originale: 1859

Ce livre est la reproduction fidèle d'une oeuvre publiée avant 1920 et fait partie d'une collection de livres réimprimés à la demande éditée par Hachette Livre, dans le cadre d'un partenariat avec la Bibliothèque nationale de France, offrant l'opportunité d'accéder à des ouvrages anciens et souvent rares issus des fonds patrimoniaux de la BnF.
Les oeuvres faisant partie de cette collection ont été numérisées par la BnF et sont présentes sur Gallica, sa bibliothèque numérique.

En entreprenant de redonner vie à ces ouvrages au travers d'une collection de livres réimprimés à la demande, nous leur donnons la possibilité de rencontrer un public élargi et participons à la transmission de connaissances et de savoirs parfois difficilement accessibles.
Nous avons cherché à concilier la reproduction fidèe d'un livre ancien à partir de sa version numérisée avec le souci d'un confort de lecture optimal. Nous espérons que les ouvrages de cette nouvelle collection vous apporteront entière satisfaction.

175 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 1674

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About the author

Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux

648 books27 followers
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (French: [nikɔla bwalo depʁeo]; often known simply as Boileau, was a French poet and critic.

Boileau did much to reform the prevailing form of French poetry, as Blaise Pascal did to reform the prose. He was greatly influenced by Horace.

The surname "Despréaux" was derived from a small property at Crosne near Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. He was the fifteenth child of Gilles Boileau, a clerk in the parlement. Two of his brothers attained some distinction: Gilles Boileau, the author of a translation of Epictetus; and Jacques Boileau, who became a canon of the Sainte-Chapelle, and made valuable contributions to church history. His mother died when he was two years old; and Nicolas Boileau, who had a delicate constitution, seems to have suffered something from want of care.

Sainte-Beuve puts down his somewhat hard and unsympathetic outlook quite as much to the uninspiring circumstances of these days as to the general character of his time. He cannot be said to have been early disenchanted, for he never seems to have had any illusions; he grew up with a single passion, "the hatred of stupid books." He was educated at the Collège de Beauvais, and was then sent to study theology at the Sorbonne. He exchanged theology for law, however, and was called to the bar on December 4, 1656. From the profession of law, after a short trial, he recoiled in disgust, complaining bitterly of the amount of chicanery which passed under the name of law and justice. His father died in 1657, leaving him a small fortune, and thenceforward he devoted himself to letters.

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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Mali.
7 reviews
September 28, 2025
C'était peut-être juste un extrait, mais c'était suffisant pour me donner envie de lâcher l'école et partir vivre au Chili.
Profile Image for Olga.
145 reviews13 followers
June 29, 2022
Ciekawie jest przesunąć się w czasie do XXVII literatury francuskiej ✌🏼
Profile Image for Рашка.
103 reviews8 followers
Read
October 14, 2025
Da ja grešim u svojim radovima makar upola kao ovaj čovek, mene bi odavno izbacili sa fakulteta xD
Profile Image for Gianluca.
314 reviews1 follower
June 25, 2023
letto nell'ed. Gallimard 1966

«Que les vers ne soient pas votre éternel emploi,
Cultivez vos amis, soyez homme de foi:
C’est peu d’être agréable et charmant dans un livre,
Il faut savoir encore et converser et vivre.»
Profile Image for Danijel.
41 reviews
November 15, 2015
Дело сам читао за испит из руске књижевности, не бих ли се информисао о основним одликама европског класицизма. На руске класицисте највише је утицао француски класицизам, што и не би требало да буде ништа ново, јер је поетика класицизма, насталог у Француској, била мање-више у свим државама иста. А шаблони и правила на којима је класицизам израстао прописани су управо у овом делу - Боалоовој Поетици (Песничкој уметности). Стихови у преводу С. Витановића и неки универзални ставови о уметности оно су што ме је навело да књизи не дам најмању оцену. Оно због чега књизи дајем свега 3 звездице јесте сама чињеница да правила, ма колико она ишла у корист лепоти дела у којима би била посведочена, убијају индивидуалност, коју је одувек волео бунтовник у мени.
Profile Image for جابر طاحون.
418 reviews218 followers
November 16, 2014
كرّس لعملك طولًا معقولًا ،
لتكن البداية بسيطة دون تكلف ،
لا تبدأو و كأنكم تركبون الجياد ،
لتصيحوا لقارئكم بصوت جهوري :
" إنني أتغني بفاتح الفاتحين في الأرض "

ما الذي يقوله الشاعر بعد كل هذا الصياح ؟
إن الجبل بعد ذلك لن يلدإلا فأرًا
كم أفضل الكاتب الذكي
الذي يقول بصوت خافت بسيط
دون أن يعدنا كل هذه الوعود:
إنني أتغني ببطولات هذا الرجل الريفي
الذي جاء من طرواده
و غزا أراضي لافينا

وصفه هذا لا يثير فينا الحمية
و حتي يعطينا الكثير
لا يعدنا إلا بالقليل .
747 reviews
October 6, 2022
2,5/5 étoiles

Parfois drôle, satirique, mais souvent élitiste
Le ronron de l'alexandrin finit par devenir assommant

J'ai été élevée sur cette phrase: « Ce que l'on conçoit bine s'énonce clairement / Et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisément »
Profile Image for Silvia.
17 reviews
March 23, 2020
Francia se caracterizó por el desarrollo del pensamiento filosófico, teológico, entre otros. Durante los siglos XVII y XVIII, se desarrollaron la crítica y la erudición literaria, el despertar de la fe en la razón y en la ciencia permitió que la cultura se renovara, la función del arte y la literatura era didáctica y moral (Wikipedia, 2019) este cambio hizo que en la literatura se retomen los modelos griegos, a los que se imitó fielmente. “De lo dicho se evidencia, que el desprecio de las reglas de Arte fue la causa de la decadencia de la Poesía, y que por consiguiente solo el aprecio de estas mismas reglas podrá restituir el buen gusto a este noble Arte.” (Boileau Despreau Nicolas, 1787) Cuando leemos el Arte poética, se puede percibir el afán que hay por las normas, por establecer las reglas de toda actividad, estas normas literarias son tomadas principalmente de la Poética de Aristóteles y Horacio.
Nicolás Boileau, quien es el autor de “El Arte poética”, publicado en 1674, nació en Francia en el año de 1636, formo parte de la Academia Francesa, siendo el principal teórico de la poesía francesa del siglo VII. Su obra contribuyó a instaurar la estética del Clasismo francés, ejerció una influencia extraordinaria sobre las doctrinas neoclásicas de la Europa culta. La intención de Boileau fue, poner una obra agradable y amena, al alcance de la burguesía, personas que no tenían un pensamiento crítico agudo, pero si presentaban inclinación por la cultura.
Lo agradable del Arte poética, consiste en la manera en que está organizado, presentando su tratado en versos, que son amenos y fáciles de aprender, según observa don Juan Bautista: “Es pues el Arte Poética la obra más apreciable y acabada de Monsieur Boileau, no solo por su utilidad, sino también por la bondad de sus versos, método y delicadeza con que propone las reglas, y ridiculiza los vicios” (Boileau Despreau Nicolas, 1787) El autor influenciado por Horacio, recoge ideas criticas repartidas en Sátiras, movido también por la tendencia de su tiempo, a establecer las reglas, las normas, escribe los versos de esta obra en cuatro cantos:
• Canto primero, observa la evolución de la poesía francesa, su historia, “No fue tan desaliñada en su infancia nuestra Poesía, como la francesa, pues los antiguos Romanceros usaron de la rima, de número y medida en sus versos” (Boileau Despreau Nicolas, 1787) En este primer canto se expone el consejo para las reglas generales de la Poesía, y para todo género de escritos, que se verán.
• Canto segundo, se centra en comentarios sobre los géneros menores: Égloga, Elegía, Oda, Soneto, Epigrama, Redondilla, Ballada, Madrigal, Sátira.
• Canto tercero, completando el canto segundo hace una definición para géneros mayores: la Tragedia, Comedia y Poema Épico, con la historia de su origen y progresos.
• Canto Cuarto: Son nuevamente cuestiones generales sobre la poesía y la escritura, aunque da sus comentarios sobre gustos personales.
Boileau reafirma la Poética de Aristóteles, diciendo que el arte es mimesis. Con respecto a la influencia que se encuentra de Aristóteles y Horacio, David Viñas Piquer dice lo siguiente: “Los críticos del Renacimiento creían que había que respetar unos preceptos porque los autores de la antigüedad los respetaron, mientras que los neoclásicos como Boileau y luego los críticos del XVIII creen que hay que seguir al pie de la letra las reglas clásicas porque las dicta el sentido común” (David, 2002) Frente a esto, me parece muy oportuno resaltar que el escrito de Boileau no era un tratado erudito, sino que exponía ideas clasicistas de una forma amena, de hecho el formato en verso logra mucha aceptación en el público, porque es fácil de aprender. Para lo que Aristóteles era pura teoría descriptiva, y quizá para Horacio eran consejos, Boileau lo transformó. Quizá por esta razón la obra y el autor tiempo después serían duramente criticados.

Bibliografía:
(s.f.).
Boileau Despreau Nicolas, B. M. (1787). El Arte Poética . Valencia: Biblioteca Nacional de España.
David, V. P. (2002). Historia de la Crítica Literaria. Barcelona: Ariel S.A.
Wikipedia. (4 de Abril de 2019). Obtenido de Barroco y Clasicismo francés: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barroco...

Profile Image for Preetam Chatterjee.
7,034 reviews379 followers
September 22, 2024
Boileau’s verse treatise on poetry of 1674, is an important document of the 17th century. It belonged to the neo-classical period. His main intention was .to teach the poets to follow rules to write.

‘What’er you write of pleasant or sublime,
Always let sense accompany your rime;
Falsely they seem each other to oppose
Rime must be made with reason’s laws to close;
And when to conquer her you bend your force,
The mind will triumph in the noble course;
To reason’s yoke she quickly will incline,
Which, far from hurting, renders her divine
But if neglected, will easily stray,
And master reason, which she . should obey.
Love reason then, and let what’ver you write
Borrow from her its beauty, force and light.

Boileau’s advice to study nature ends up by being the advice to study the classics. Boileau gave prominence to the unities of action, time and place. He also gives practical suggestions for French verse.

He believes, a Spanish writer may put the whole life of a man in one play,

‘But we, that are to reason’s rule confined,
Will that with art the poem be designed,
That unity of action, time, and place,
Keep the stage full and all our labours grace.’

The Renaissance critics gave positive instructions in conformity to classical conventions. Boileau makes a comparative assessment. Ronsard and Malherb and placed the latter higher than the former.

Ronsard had imitated Pindar and Anacreon too much and choked his poetry. Therefore, Boileau’s instruction was to write with clarity and spontaneously.

‘More pleased we are to see a river lead
His gentle streams along a flowery mead,
Than from high banks to hear loud torrents roar,
With foamy waters, on a muddy shore.
Gently make haste, of labour not afraid,
A hundred times consider what you’ve said;
Polish, repolish, every colour lay,
And sometimes add, but oftener take away.’

Boileau’s next injunction is to stick to decorum. He prefers that poets should use classical names like Hector, Alexander, Ulysses, and Achilles. A poet should not use a mediqual name like Child broad. His injunction for a poet is to,

‘Allow your work a just and noble flight’

He says that during the Renaissance Vida could write,

‘When things are small the terms should still be so;
For low words please us when theme is low.

But Boileau, does not agree with Vida.

‘In all you write be neither low nor vide;
The meanest theme.. may have a proper style.’

Boileau shows his preference for the classical writers as against Tasso and Guarini who wanted to use Christian subjects. Boileau allows only classical machinery.

‘Besides, what pleasure can it be to hear
The howlings of repining Lucifer,
Whose rage at your imagined hero flies,
And off with God himself diputes the prize.’

Boileau believed that poetry should be patronised by the king and noble patrons.

‘...verse is cherished by the great,
And now none famish who deserve to eat.
What can we fear when virtue, arts, and sense,
Receive the stars’ propitious influence,
When a sharp-sighted prince, by early grants,
Rewards your merit, and prevents, your wants?
Sing then his glory, celebrate his fame, .
Your noblest theme is his immortal name.’

Recommended as a classic of literary criticism.
Profile Image for Emma.
52 reviews
May 16, 2019
I read it for a drama competition.
Boileau was a great mind, but he didn't make this book very readable.
It's great if you're interested in literature and french classicism ( which I am) but if you want to relax and rest a bit, choose another book. I enjoyed it, but it was quite hard to understand.
Profile Image for Madelyn.
766 reviews8 followers
April 12, 2020
"Et des Auteurs grossiers j'attaque les défaut;
Censeur un peu fâcheux, mais souvent nécessaire,
Plus enclin à blâmer, que savant à bien faire."
186 reviews2 followers
December 1, 2021
Texte fondateur de la poésie française. Très beau poème même si le sujet est bien sûr pas folichon
Profile Image for vea.
138 reviews5 followers
January 3, 2025
he tenido que leer esto con música electrónica buf que perezón
Profile Image for Alice Rovani.
134 reviews8 followers
August 23, 2025
fielleux et mesquin bonhomme, vient néanmoins piquer parfois Louis XIV de son aiguillon et donc fort plaisant
1 review
December 27, 2025
Un excellent texte pour qui se passionne de la poésie, ou qui cherche de la rectitude dans ses écrits.
Profile Image for Alejandra Díaz de León.
162 reviews8 followers
February 24, 2017
"Os mostraré de lejos la corona,
el premio que al poeta se destina,
y vuestro júbilo entonces inflamado,
recobrará más fuerza y energía".
Profile Image for Yann.
1,413 reviews394 followers
March 3, 2015
J'ai adoré ce livre. L'art poétique m'a tellement plus que j'ai appris par cœur le chant I. Les pastiches du Cid et du dialogue des morts de Lucien sont très drôles. Boileau fait honneur à ses maîtres, Horace et Juvénal. Il en tire tout le piquant en retranchant ce qui trop salé pourrait choquer les goût des modernes. Le passage en langue française est très réussi. Chapeau
Profile Image for Flavia ~.
52 reviews56 followers
June 30, 2022
A forgotten jewel on the art of poetry and the importance of well-written books.

"A thirst for profit has everyman in thrall,
The vulgar lie has brought poems to their fall,
And now from every corner, poor books seem to unfold
By thousands, in the market, the words are being sold."


~ personal translation.
Profile Image for Doaa Sultan.
87 reviews35 followers
February 13, 2013
قريت ترجمة رجاء ياقوت - المركز القومي للترجمة

عجبني نصائح بوالو للشعراء في طريقة تناول المواضيع باختلافها وكيفية النقد البناء والاساطير والاستفادة من الكُتَّاب القدامى والأساطير

Profile Image for William.
587 reviews17 followers
April 22, 2017
The didactic verse (in alexandrines) of Boileau on how to write is still some of the best advice I have read. Sometimes very refreshing, always very opinionated, and often humorous (well, at least it makes me smile from time to time). I was surprised how much had remained with me decades after I first read this work. However, Chant II and Chant III are as tedious as I remember because they are simply explanations of minor and major genres of poetic forms. But Chant I and Chant IV are well worth a careful reading. Every few lines seems to be a quotable gem, and I still carry snippets such as these with me:

Hâtez-vous lentement, et, sans perdre courage,
Vingt fois sur le métier remettez votre ouvrage
Polissez-le sans cesse et le repolissez ;
Ajoutez quelquefois, et souvent effacez.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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