On the Sublime

Longinus wrote 'On the Sublime' in classical antiquity. The Kindle version includes some separate academic agonising. The original work is worthy of much close reading. The attached essay seems more concerned with did Longinus really exist, or was it two other fellows Such an approach would dilute what I consider the strength of the work. It does not matter who actually wrote it. The substance of the classical work, really does.

I was required to read this book for a class on rhetoric. I am amazed at the practical advice he gives. The examples refer to events in the ancient world, but I still understood them and the point being made. It is amusing to read the critical comments about Plato written by a contemporary towards the end of the book. Helpful - even 2000+ years later.

This is the book that has started the 19th century obsession with the sublime that continues to this day. Attributed to Longinus, On the Sublime is about 2000 years old give or take. The translation is dated, it is from 1860, yet it is still clear enough to gain an understanding of the rhetorical sublime.The sublime "consists in a certain loftiness" of expression. "That which is admirable ever confounds our judgment, and eclipses that which is merely reasonable or agreeable. To believe or not is usually in our own power, but the sublime acting with an imperious and irresistible force, sways every reader whether he will or no.".The sublime is a force that prevents a piece of art from "gradually sinking into absurdity". It is what is astounding.Longinus lists how rhetorical devices can be sublime and how a human must control them and not allow them to run away with passion. The sublime is thus passion that is controlled by language itself. It is mastery of a language in such a way that a poet can move his readers with it.I suppose that if are interested on the sublime, you can get a new translation, but this is free - and from the historical standpoint this is the text that Burke and Kant used to formulate their own famous hypotheses on the sublime.I would have wished for a better interface in the kindle format and a clearer sectioning of the book into chapters, but this book is a freebie, so no complaint.

This is a classic commentary on writing styles. It is not a list of rules, but it does include various tips, e.g. "hyperbole is most effective when it appears in disguise", as well as, the use of hyperbaton and the importance of limiting the number of metaphors used in a passage, etc.

The text is jammed chapters on each page and the words are just tiny. Can't we pay 3 extra bucks and get to actually read it? Bought it for graduate class.

Writers in Williamsburg, Virginia in the early eighteenth century sought guidance from Longinus, the first in the line of literary scholars to advise colleagues on quality writing. Current scholars and writers unfamiliar with Longinus are sure to enjoy the wisdom passed down through the centuries that is as relevent today as in 200-300 AD.D K Elliott, Author, The Canyon Caper