📜Classical Poetics Unit 12 – Longinus: Sublime Rhetoric and Emotion

Who Was Longinus?

• Greek teacher and philosopher who lived in the 1st century AD
• Believed to have been born in Syria and later moved to Athens
• Worked as a teacher and literary critic, analyzing works of literature and rhetoric
• Known for his treatise "On the Sublime," which explores the concept of the sublime in literature and rhetoric
• Identity remains somewhat mysterious, with some scholars questioning whether "Longinus" was his real name or a pseudonym
  • May have used a pseudonym to protect himself from political persecution
• Longinus' exact dates of birth and death are unknown, but he is believed to have been active during the reign of Emperor Aurelian (270-275 AD)
• Considered one of the most important literary critics and rhetoricians of the ancient world

Historical Context

• Longinus lived during the Second Sophistic period, a time of renewed interest in Greek culture and rhetoric in the Roman Empire
• Political instability characterized the Roman Empire during Longinus' lifetime, with frequent changes in leadership and power struggles
• Intellectual culture of the time emphasized the study of classical texts and the cultivation of rhetorical skills
  • Orators and writers sought to emulate the style and techniques of earlier Greek masters
• Longinus' work reflects the cultural and intellectual climate of his time, with its focus on the power of language to move and inspire audiences
• Greek culture and language remained influential throughout the Roman Empire, despite Roman political dominance
• Longinus' treatise "On the Sublime" contributed to the ongoing dialogue about the nature and purpose of literature and rhetoric in the ancient world
• His ideas were shaped by the philosophical and literary traditions of ancient Greece, particularly the works of Plato and Homer

Key Concepts of the Sublime

• The sublime refers to a quality in literature and rhetoric that evokes a sense of awe, wonder, or transcendence in the audience
• Longinus identifies five sources of the sublime: great thoughts, strong emotions, certain figures of thought and speech, noble diction, and dignified word arrangement
• Great thoughts involve the expression of profound and universal truths that resonate with the human experience
• Strong emotions, such as passion, enthusiasm, and ecstasy, can infuse writing with a sense of the sublime
• Figures of thought and speech, such as rhetorical questions, hyperbole, and asyndeton, can heighten the impact of language
• Noble diction involves the use of elevated and dignified language that is appropriate to the subject matter
• Dignified word arrangement refers to the skillful and harmonious composition of words and phrases to create a powerful effect
• The sublime is not merely a matter of style or technique but arises from a combination of innate genius and acquired skill
• Longinus emphasizes the importance of imitating and emulating great models of the sublime in order to cultivate one's own abilities

Longinus' Approach to Rhetoric

• Longinus' treatise "On the Sublime" is a work of literary criticism that examines the nature and sources of the sublime in literature and rhetoric
• He approaches rhetoric as an art that requires both natural talent and learned skill
• Longinus emphasizes the importance of studying and imitating great models of the sublime in order to develop one's own abilities
  • Encourages writers and orators to seek out and analyze examples of the sublime in literature and speeches
• Believes that the sublime arises from a combination of innate genius and acquired technique
• Stresses the importance of emotional impact in rhetoric, arguing that the most effective writing and speaking evokes a powerful emotional response in the audience
• Longinus' approach to rhetoric is grounded in the idea that language has the power to move and inspire people on a deep, emotional level
• Encourages writers and orators to cultivate a sense of the sublime in their own work through the use of elevated language, strong emotions, and profound thoughts
• Longinus' emphasis on the emotional impact of rhetoric sets him apart from many other ancient rhetoricians who focused primarily on logical argumentation and persuasion

Emotion and Its Role in the Sublime

• Longinus identifies emotion as one of the key sources of the sublime in literature and rhetoric
• He argues that strong emotions, such as passion, enthusiasm, and ecstasy, can infuse writing with a sense of the sublime
• Emotions have the power to transport the audience and create a sense of identification or empathy with the subject matter
• Longinus believes that the most effective writing and speaking arises from genuine emotion rather than artificial or contrived sentiment
• He encourages writers and orators to cultivate a deep emotional connection to their subject matter in order to convey that emotion to their audience
• The use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and other figures of speech can help to evoke strong emotions in the audience
• Longinus also recognizes the importance of controlling and channeling emotion in order to achieve the desired effect
  • Unrestrained or excessive emotion can undermine the credibility of the writer or speaker
• The sublime arises from a balance of strong emotion and artistic control, allowing the audience to be moved and inspired without being overwhelmed or manipulated

Analyzing Sublime Passages

• Longinus' treatise "On the Sublime" includes close analyses of specific passages from literature that he considers examples of the sublime
• He examines passages from Homer, Plato, Demosthenes, and other Greek writers to illustrate the sources and techniques of the sublime
• Longinus pays close attention to the use of language, imagery, and emotion in these passages, showing how they work together to create a powerful effect on the reader or listener
• He also considers the context and purpose of each passage, analyzing how it fits into the larger work and contributes to its overall impact
• Longinus' analyses demonstrate the importance of close reading and attention to detail in understanding and appreciating the sublime in literature
• His approach to analyzing sublime passages involves a combination of technical analysis and emotional response
  • Examines the specific linguistic and rhetorical techniques used in each passage
  • Also considers the emotional impact of the passage and how it evokes a sense of the sublime
• Longinus' analyses serve as models for how to approach the study and appreciation of great literature, emphasizing the importance of both critical analysis and emotional engagement

Longinus' Influence on Later Thinkers

• Longinus' treatise "On the Sublime" had a significant influence on later writers, critics, and philosophers
• His ideas about the nature and sources of the sublime were taken up and developed by thinkers in the Renaissance and beyond
• The Italian poet Torquato Tasso drew on Longinus' ideas in his own work and helped to popularize the concept of the sublime in the 16th century
• The French writer Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux translated "On the Sublime" into French in 1674, helping to spread Longinus' ideas throughout Europe
• The English philosopher Edmund Burke wrote his own treatise on the sublime in 1757, building on and expanding Longinus' ideas
• The German philosopher Immanuel Kant also engaged with the concept of the sublime in his "Critique of Judgment" (1790), although he developed his own distinct understanding of the term
• Longinus' emphasis on emotion and the irrational in literature and rhetoric influenced the development of Romanticism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries
• His ideas continue to be studied and debated by scholars of literature, rhetoric, and aesthetics today

Applying Longinus' Ideas Today

• Longinus' ideas about the sublime in literature and rhetoric remain relevant and applicable to contemporary writing and communication
• His emphasis on the emotional impact of language and the importance of evoking a sense of awe or transcendence in the audience is still valued by writers and speakers today
• The five sources of the sublime identified by Longinus - great thoughts, strong emotions, figures of thought and speech, noble diction, and dignified word arrangement - can serve as a framework for analyzing and creating powerful writing and speeches
• Longinus' approach to analyzing sublime passages can be adapted to the study of contemporary literature and rhetoric, encouraging close reading and attention to the ways in which language, imagery, and emotion work together to create a powerful effect
• The concept of the sublime continues to be explored and debated by scholars and practitioners in fields such as literature, philosophy, and aesthetics
  • Contemporary thinkers have expanded and challenged Longinus' ideas, considering how the sublime might be understood in relation to modern art, technology, and culture
• Longinus' treatise "On the Sublime" remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in the power of language to move and inspire audiences, whether in literature, rhetoric, or other forms of communication
• His ideas encourage writers and speakers to strive for greatness and to cultivate a sense of the sublime in their own work, while also providing a framework for analyzing and appreciating the sublime in the work of others