Longinus - On the Sublime | Classical Criticism |

"On the Sublime" is a precious legacy of the Greco-Roman period. It is a critical document of great worth and significance. This work belongs to Longinus. However, the authenticity of the date and author is a matter of debate.

        It has a well-marked structure. Longinus has addressed this document to a friend and a pupil- Terentianus. Its central discussion is those vices of style included in the contemporary oratory i.e. "a false Sublime". While addressing his friend Terentian, Longinuis has said that this essay aims to correct the faults of Caecilius's essay "Essay on Sublime" and make some preliminary observations.

        Longinus has propounded that "Sublimity is a certain loftiness and excellence in language". It is the sublimity that the greatest poets and prose writers of any age have gained reverence and immmortility in the realm of criticism. Sublimity not only persuades us but also carries us irresistibly. According to Longinus, Sublimity can be expressed even in a single line, like a flash of lightning. 

        Further, He has divided Sublimity into two categories. They are- true sublimity and false sublimity. True sublimity, as Longinus has defined it, uplifts our soul. "It arises from lofty ideas, clothed in loft language". In other words true sublime "Pleases all and pleases always". On the contrary, the false sublime consists merely of appealing surfaces that conceal nothing only emptiness. There is a bombast of language and a cheap display of passion.

        According to Longinus, Sublimility can be achieved in five ways. Those five ways are the following- "Grandeur of Thought", "Intensity of Emotion", "The Appropriate Use of Figure of Speech", "Nobility of Dicton", and "Dignified  Composition".

The first two qualities, "Grandeur of Thought" and "Intensity of Emotion" are the gifts of nature. It is a human's intrinsic quality. And the others are acquired by art. 

Sources of Sublimity-:

Grandeur of thought - It is the first requirement of sublimity. It means greatness and nobility of thought that will surely find its natural expression in lofty language. Such thoughts are the "echo of greatness" As per Longinus such thoughts can be cultivated by nourishing the mind on the thought that is elevating. Therefore he who wants to attain such distinctiveness in their style and writing must feed his soul on the work of the great master like Homar. However, Longinus warns that learning does not mean imitation but "a man catches fire in from the spirit of other".  Further, he says that the grandeur of conception is to be emphasised and made effective by suitable material treatment.

Intensity of emotion / Passion - This is the second source of the sublime. In Longinus's view, nothing can contribute to grandeur conception other than vehement emotion.

The use of figures - It is the third source of sublimity. It can be achieved through learning. Longinus has devoted one-third of his work to it and says that figures should not be used mechanically, instead they must come from true or genuine emotions. In other words,  

"A figure is most effective when the fact that it is a figure is happily concealed, and it is concealed by splendour of style"

However, Longinus does not deal with all the figures of speech. He only deals with rhetorical questions, Asyndenton, Hyperbaton, and Periphrasis.

Diction - The fourth source of 'sublime' is diction. It includes choice and arrangement of words, and use of metaphor, and simile. As per Longinus words must be chosen for the formation of the impressive style. He adds "Beautiful words are truth the very light of thought". Next, he talks about the use of metaphor. He includes metaphor as a queen of metaphor, and simile and comparison under the heading of figure. Metaphors are used to give the necessary elevation to style. There should be no rules on how many metaphors should be used, rather it is the insight of genius that decides it. 

Dignified Composition - It is the fifth source of the sublime. As per Longinus words must be harmoniously set not only of persuasion and pleasure but of lofty emotion as well. Such a harmonious combination of words appeals to the soul and enables the reader to share in the emotion of the author. Further, Longinus praised the hexameter and said it was most beautiful.