Aristotle.

Mimesis:
Mimesis is the 'imitation of an action' according to 'the law of probability or necessity'  and in Aristotle's opinion is shown through drama and actions instead of being told, through/like a narrative.

Aristotle also believed that tragedy was more relevant to the audience because they could relate to the 'cause and effect chain' of tragedy. 
  
The Incentive Moment:
Aristotle believed that a plot must be whole with a beginning, middle and an end. The Incentive moment is the beginning because it starts the cause and effect chain without being dependent on other factors.

The Dénouement:
The Dénouement is the 'rapid cause and effect chain' from the climax (middle) to the resolution (end). - the unravelling of the play etc.

The Dues ex Machina:
The Dues ex Machina means the plot must be 'complete' and must have a 'unity of action' - Aristotle basically means that the plot must be self-contained and must not have been effected by outside intervention to be able to bring about a rapid and tidy conclusion.

The Plot: 
A plot cna either be simple or complex. Aristotle believed that the more complex the plot the better, as simple plots tend to only have a 'change of fortune' (catastrophe), whereas, complex plots tend to have both 'reversal of intention' (peripeteia) and 'recognition' (anagnorisis) connected with the catastrophe.

Peripeteia occurs when a character produces an effect opposite to that which he/she intended to produce, while anagnorisis is a change from ignorance to knowledge producing love or hate between character/person destined for good or bad fortune. Aristotle argues that the best plots combine the two as part of their cause and effect chain, which in turn creates the catastrophe, leading to the final scene of suffering.