On the Sublime

In "On the Sublime," why does Longinus shed light on the production itself rather than on the poet?

The reason why the author of On the Sublime (who more than likely is not Longinus, according to historians) sheds a light on the production itself rather than the poet is because of a term that the author quoted from Theodorus which is parenthyrsus (III). This term refers to a tragic flaw in all men which is to lose themselves into a situation.

What is an example of any poem that can be considered sublime according to Longinus, and why is it considered sublime?

One example of the sublime in poetry is Epithalamion by Edmund Spenser. Since this is a long and immensly complex poem, the poems in his sonnet cycle will serve equally well as examples of the sublime. According to Longinus, in brief, the style of poetry must elevated, moral, nobel, having strong emotion and containing dignified figures of speech.

What does Longinus discuss in On The Sublime?

This text begins with a discussion about the relationship between "nature" and "art

How is nobility of diction a source of the sublime as discussed by Longinus in On the Sublime?

Not every work is extraordinary. Longinus, in On the Sublime,has given detailed account of the sources that make any work of art sublime. Sublimity refers to greatness and excellence. One of the key things that make any work extraordinary is its "diction" (By diction, one means the words chosen for use in the work). Now, a writer can always choose one word over the other.

What is some information on Longinus as a Classic or Romantic critic?

Longinus wrote in the Classic Greek period. Longinus cannot be properly identified. It is thought he was actually a Greek master of rhetoric, though, for simplicity, the writer is consistently called Longinus.During the Classic period, Longinus had no appreciable impact or influence. This is said to be true because he is not referenced in any other known Classic Greek works, neither is he nor The Sublimementioned in the Medieval period.

What are the sources of the "sublime" in On The Sublime by Longinus?

Grandeur of Thought

Capacity for Strong Emotion

Appropriate Use of Pictures

Nobility of Diction

Dignity of Composition

What is false sublime? Explain with reference to Longinus's On the Sublime.

Longinus says that the false sublime is characterised first, by timidity or bombast of language, which is as great an evil as swellings in the body. “It is drier than dropsy.” Secondly, the false sublime is characterised by puerility, which is a parade and pomp of language, tawdry and affected, and so frigid. Thirdly, the false sublime results when there is a cheap display of passion, when it is not justified by the occasion, and so is wearisome. True sublime, on the other hand, pleases all and “pleases always,” for it expresses thoughts of universal validity—thoughts common to man of all ages and centuries—in a language which instinctively uplifts our souls.

How does figurative language enhance "sublimity" in On the Sublime?

Longinus, in Section XV of his treatise, argues that figurative langauge, done well, can play a vital part in the creation of sublimity. This is a very interesting example of how Longinus argues that excellence in literature comes through a marriage of natural talent and genius and learnt skill, such as the ability to use figurative language well to describe something.

Write note on Frigidity in On the Sublime.

Frigidity is a characteristic that Longinus sees as an enemy of sublime literature. Writers achieve frigidity when, while they "aim at the uncommon and elaborate and most of all at the attractive, they drift unawares into the tawdry and affected.

What is the sublime art?

In aesthetics, the sublime (from the Latin sublīmis) is the quality of greatness, whether physical, moral, intellectual, metaphysical, aesthetic, spiritual, or artistic. The term especially refers to a greatness beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement, or imitation.

How does Longinus define the sublime?

Longinus defines the literary sublime as "excellence in language", the "expression of a great spirit" and the power to provoke "ecstasy" in one's readers. Longinusholds that the goal of a writer should be to produce a form of ecstasy.

What is the sublime in literature?

The sublime, a notion in aesthetic and literary theory, is a striking grandeur of thought and emotion. Longinus defines literary sublimity as "excellence in language," the "expression of a great spirit," and the power to provoke "ecstasy."

What is the romantic sublime?

Edmund Burke's Philosophical Enquiry (1757) connected the sublime with experiences of awe, terror and danger. Burke saw nature as the most sublimeobject, capable of generating the strongest sensations in its beholders. ThisRomantic conception of the sublime proved influential for several generations of artists.

What is a sublime landscape?

19th Century Landscape – The Pastoral, the Picturesque and the Sublime. ... Three aesthetic concepts established during the Romantic era divided the natural world into categories: the Pastoral, the Picturesque, and the Sublime. The first two represent Nature as a comforting source of physical and spiritual sustenance.

What is a sublime experience?

The Sublime Experience. Sublime experiences, whether in nature or in art, inspire awe and reverence, and an emotional understanding that transcends rational thought and words or language.

Who is called the first romantic critic?

Sublimity, with its emphasis on natural expression and impulse, balanced astutely with skill and artifice, is something that sounds awfully like Romantic poetry and literature. It is therefore perfectly plausible to argue that Longinus was in fact the first Romantic critic

Is sublimity a word?

sublimity. ... When something is sublime, it transcends greatness or beauty for the observer — like a deeply moving film or a transcendent piece of music. So when something is truly wonderful, or someone acts in a truly noble way, it's an example ofsublimity. The Latin root, sublimis, means "uplifted, high, or exalted."

What is a sublime?

In common use, sublime is an adjective meaning "awe-inspiringly grand, excellent, or impressive," like the best chocolate fudge sundae you've ever had. You might describe a spine-tingling piece of music as "a work of sublime beauty.

What is the egotistical sublime?

egotistical sublime a phrase coined by Keats in a letter of 27 October 1818 to describe his version of Wordsworth's distinctive genius. "egotistical sublime