On the Sublime

On the Sublime is a philosophical treatise from the 1st or 3rd century CE that examines what makes great writing achieve sublimity in literature and rhetoric. The text was attributed to Longinus, though scholars debate the true authorship. The work analyzes selections from classical authors and poets to identify five sources of the sublime in literature: grandeur of thought, inspiration of emotion, use of figures of speech, noble diction, and dignified composition. Through specific examples from Homer, Sappho, and other writers, the author demonstrates how these elements combine to elevate prose and poetry. The treatise includes both literary criticism and practical writing advice, with sections devoted to understanding what makes language powerful versus what causes it to fail. The author cites and critiques passages from Greek and Roman literature to illustrate effective versus ineffective techniques. The text explores universal questions about aesthetics, creative genius, and how art can transport audiences beyond ordinary experience to a state of transcendence. Its influence extends from ancient rhetoric to modern literary theory.

Readers value this text's analysis of rhetorical techniques and its insights into what makes writing powerful. Many note its enduring relevance to modern literature and criticism despite its ancient origins. Liked: - Clear examples from classical texts - Practical advice for writers - Accessible translation by W.H. Fyfe - Detailed analysis of emotional impact in writing - Connections between rhetoric and psychology Disliked: - Missing sections from damaged manuscript - Dense academic language in some translations - Limited scope of Greek/Roman literary examples - Repetitive sections on figures of speech - Challenging to follow without classical background Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (289 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) Reader Quote: "Unlike other ancient critics, Longinus focuses on the reader's emotional experience rather than just technical rules." - Goodreads reviewer Most criticisms center on translation issues rather than content. Several readers recommend starting with D.A. Russell's modern commentary for context.

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🌟 The true identity of Longinus remains a literary mystery. While traditionally attributed to Cassius Longinus (3rd century CE), many scholars now believe it was written in the 1st century CE by an unknown author, sometimes called "Pseudo-Longinus." 📚 The only surviving manuscript of "On the Sublime" was discovered in the 16th century and was missing about a third of the original text, including the beginning and ending. ✍️ The work heavily influenced Romantic writers and poets, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries, with Edmund Burke's "A Philosophical Enquiry into the Sublime and Beautiful" drawing significant inspiration from it. 🎭 Longinus identifies five sources of sublimity in literature: great thoughts, strong emotions, proper use of figures of speech, noble diction, and dignified composition - principles that continue to influence literary criticism today. 🗯️ The text includes what may be the earliest known reference to the Book of Genesis, making it one of the first pagan acknowledgments of Judaic literature in classical antiquity.