LONGINUS: SOURCES OF SUBLIMITY

Hareshwar Roy, November 15, 2017

He distinguishes the true sublime from the false sublime. He advises how to overcome the vices of sublime.
His suggestions are of permanent and paramount value.

WHAT IS SUBLIMITY: Sublimity is a certain loftiness, distinction and consummation of excellence in

But one should not forget that nature needs the help of art to control its wild impulses. In fact, both nature
and art contribute to sublimity in literature. According to Longinus, ‘Art is perfect when it seems to be
nature, and nature hits the mark when she contains art hidden within her’.

THE SOURCES OF THE SUBLIME: According to Longinus there are five principal sources of the sublime.
These sources are –
[1] Grandeur of thought;
[2] Strong emotion;
[3] The use of figures;
[4] Noble diction;
[5] Dignified composition.
The ‘grandeur of thought’ and ‘strong emotion’ is inborn gifts of nature. The rest three sources are the
gifts of art.

[1] GRANDEUR OF THOUGHT: ‘Grandeur of thought’ is one of the principal sources of the sublime. It is
largely the gift of nature. It is essential for a sublime work. Men with mean and servile ideas can’t attain
sublimity. In fact, great thoughts spring from great souls. In short, it is the echo of a great soul. In the
words of Longinus ‘their words are full of sublimity whose thoughts are full of majesty’. Sublimity demands
skilful selection and organisation of material. Details should be so chosen as to form an organic whole. The
imitation is also one of the significant paths, which lead to sublimity.

[2] STRONG EMOTION: Strong and inspired passion is the second significant source of the sublime. The
vigorous treatment of it is essential for acquiring sublimity.
Strong emotion is an inborn gift of a genius. According to Longinus nothing makes so much for grandeur as
true emotion in the right place. But the subject of emotion has not been dealt with in detail.

[3] THE USE OF FIGURES: The use of figures is the third principal source of the sublime. It can be acquired
by art. It helps in the creation of the sublime. Figures of speech should be used in a natural manner.
They should be employed in the right place, on the right occasion, in the right manner and with a right
motive. Only such use strengthens the sublime and the sublime supports it. The chief figures like the
rhetorical questions; adjuration, asyndeton, hyperbaton, periphrasis, anaphora, diatyposis and polyptota
contribute much to the sublime and add greatly to the beauty of language.

[4] NOBLE DICTION: It is also a very important source of the sublime. It includes choice of proper words
and the use of metaphors and ornamental language. The choice of proper and striking words is essential
for producing sublimity.
Longinus is of the view that beautiful words are the very light of lofty thought. Trivial subjects should not
be treated in a grand manner. It means that inappropriate magnificence of diction should be avoided. The
use of metaphors also contributes a great deal to the sublime.

[5] DIGNIFIED COMPOSION: Dignified composition or the harmonious arrangement of words is the fifth
source of the sublime. It is a great source of persuasion as well as pleasure. It makes the reader or hearer
share the emotion of the speaker.
It is the sense of harmony that gives charm and organic unity to a word of art. The lack of harmony spoils
dignity and elevation and gives the composition an appearance of meanness.

CONCLUSION: Thus Longinus is one of the greatest masters of criticism. He is the pioneer in the field of
literary appreciations. His ‘On the sublime’ is the first and a unique treaty on style. His prescriptions for
sublimity are universal.
HomeCritical Theory Examine Longinus theory of Sublime
Examine Longinus theory of Sublime
LiteratureaddaJuly 02, 2020

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“HomeCritical Theory Examine Longinus theory of Sublime
Examine Longinus theory of Sublime
LiteratureaddaJuly 02, 2020

"On the Sublime" is a critical document of great worth and significance. It is unfortunate that it has come to us
in a imperfect manner, large portion are missing thus we have the actual part of the work. But what we have is
sufficiant to make the plaine of intention of its author. The exact date and authorship of the great Greek treatise
is attributed to Longinus. Cassius Longinus is a rhetorical and philosophical critic. It was in 1554 that the great
Greek critic Robertello first present the work to the modern readers. Then some critics pointed out that this
work is belonged to Longinus.

The main aim of Longinus to write this work is explain the concept of sublime is to refer to a style of writing that
present sublimity and touchess the heart of its readers. In order to explain the concept of sublime Longinus
present five sources of sublime these are ; grandeur of thought, passion, appropriate use of figures, right
diction, skilfull composition.
Longinus says great literature gives sublime and he devides sublime into two groups; natural and artificial
artificial sublime is a sublime where writers uses unnatural and unrealistic elements in the work.

Then Longinus discuss about the real meaning of sublime. The meaning of Sublime is an eminence and
exellence of language. This is achieve by powerfull and well time utterance. It is featuThen hat inducess the
readers and lisner into transs mood.

Longinus admires genius in writing, in writing , he is a great supporter of Plato, Aristotle, Hommer, Longinus
talks about this writers ability to create sublime to gives pleasure for its readers. Longinus called Plato as brave
writer, bravery is necessary to take risk and taking risk is necessary to reach sublime. Longinus is a first critic
who add imagination and emotion in the writing thats why the great Greek critic "Scott James" called him as
first "Romantic Critic".

Then Longinus outlined five sources of sublime. Two of this are as result of natural capicities of writers;
grandeur of thought and strong passion. The other three are rhetorical skills; the appropriate use of figures and
noble diction and majestic composition. The important source is the first which roots upon sweap of the
author's mind. Although a great intellect is likely to innate, it may be enlarged by association with great ideas.
Reading the fines work of the past is always valueable. Although even the greatest mind can sometimes falls
below their customery level: Longinus suggests the Hommer's Odyssey is a lower plane of intensity, throughout
then his Liad.

•Five sources of Sublime-

•Grandeur of thoughts- Without grandeur of thoughts writer cannot soar to great sublimity. Thats is why
servilities do not create sublimity. Longinus says that only great mind can produce great thoughts and only
noble and great thoughts can leads to noble ideas. Works of Hommer and Milton are full of sublimity becouse
their thoughts are sublime and style is grand.

• Strong Passion- Sublime thoughts can be attained by strong emotions such as pity, fear, grief are removed
from the sublime. A writer who avoids such things, he would be very close to reach the level of sublime.

•Appropriate use of figures- Figures of speech are the artistic aids to sublimity. The chief figures are,
hyperbatons, apostrophe. The figure of speech should be carefully used.
•Noble Diction- Diction is includes choice of words as well as the use of figures of speech.

•Dignifite Composition- A work of art should be harmonious and complete. For this, it should have dignifite
and elaborate composition. It should have sufficiant length. Here Longinus gives the example of Aristotle's
mind. Aristotle also says that the plot must have beginning middle and end. Similarly to reach the level of su
blime a writer should arrange proper events and words.

• The True and False Sublime

The writer then distinguishes between the 'true sublime' and the 'false sublime”. The true sublime uplifts our
soul. It arises from lofty ideas clothed  in lofty language. It gives us joy and exalts our spirits. The more we read it,
the more we enjoy it. Every time it suggests new ideas and feelings. It never grows stale. In short, the true
sublime, “pleases all, and pleases always”. The "false sublime”, on the other hand, consists merely of a
gorgeous exterior, which conceals nothing but emptiness. There is bombast of language. Affected, pompous
language is used to clothe thoughts which are essentially trivial and peurile. There is also cheap display of
passion unwarranted by the subject.

Conclusion-  The work of Longinus is a great work it is regarded as work of suggestive teaching in modern time.
The work of Longinus is in a sense contemporaneous with that of Plato and Aristotle and Coleridge
r plane of intensity, throughout then his Liad.

•Five sources of Sublime-

•Grandeur of thoughts- Without grandeur of thoughts writer cannot soar to great sublimity. That’s is
why servilities do not create sublimity. Longinus says that only great mind can produce great thoughts
and only noble and great thoughts can leads to noble ideas. Works of Hommer and Milton are full of
sublimity becouse their thoughts are sublime and style is grand.
• Strong Passion- Sublime thoughts can be attained by strong emotions such as pity, fear, grief are
removed from the sublime. A writer who avoids such things, he would be very close to reach the
level of sublime.

•Appropriate use of figures- Figures of speech are the artistic aids to sublimity. The chief figures are,
hyperbatons, apostrophe. The figure of speech should be carefully used.

•Noble Diction- Diction is includes choice of words as well as the use of figures of speech.

•Dignifite Composition- A work of art should be harmonious and complete. For this, it should have
dignifite and elaborate composition. It should have sufficient length. Here Longinus gives the example
of Aristotle’s mind. Aristotle also says that the plot must have beginning middle and end. Similarly to
reach the level of su blime a writer should arrange proper events and words.

• The True and False Sublime

The writer then distinguishes between the ‘true sublime’ and the ‘false sublime”. The true sublime uplifts
our soul. It arises from lofty ideas clothed in lofty language. It gives us joy and exalts our spirits. The more
we read it, the more we enjoy it. Every time it suggests new ideas and feelings. It never grows stale. In
short, the true sublime, “pleases all, and pleases always”. The “false sublime”, on the other hand, consists
merely of a gorgeous exterior, which conceals nothing but emptiness. There is bombast of language.
Affected, pompous language is used to clothe thoughts which are essentially trivial and peurile. There is
also cheap display of passion unwarranted by the subject.
Conclusion- The work of Longinus is a great work it is regarded as work of suggestive teaching in modern
time. The work of Longinus is in a sense contemporaneous with that of Plato and Aristotle and Coleridge