Concept Of The Sublime By Longinus

Concept Of The Sublime By Longinus

This article will cover Longinus and the Sublime, which is basically a concept given by this great philosopher of Greek origin. You will find all the necessary points in this article, so go ahead and grasp all the details. 

What Is Sublime By Longinus?

Longinus was a Greek philosopher and literary critic who wrote a famous treatise on the concept of the sublime. In his work “On the Sublime,” Longinus defined the sublime as a feeling of grandeur and awe that is inspired by encountering something that is beyond human understanding or control.

Longinus believed that the sublime could be found in many different forms of art and literature, but that it was most often associated with descriptions of natural phenomena, such as storms, mountains, and oceans. He argued that these descriptions had the power to evoke a sense of the vastness and power of nature, which could be both beautiful and terrifying.

According to Longinus, the sublime was not simply a matter of describing something as grand or impressive. Instead, it was a matter of using language in a way that would inspire a sense of awe and wonder in the reader. He believed that this could be achieved through the use of certain techniques, such as the use of vivid and detailed descriptions, the use of elevated language, and the use of grand metaphors.

Longinus also believed that encountering the sublime in literature had the power to transport the reader beyond their everyday experience. He saw the sublime as a means of elevating the human spirit and promoting moral and spiritual growth.

Overall, Longinus’ concept of the sublime represents an important contribution to our understanding of the power of literature to inspire and uplift the human spirit. It reminds us that great writing can evoke a sense of wonder and awe in the reader, connecting us to something greater than ourselves and inspiring us to strive for the highest ideals of human existence.

Concept Of The Sublime By Longinus 

The concept of the sublime has been an enduring theme in literary criticism and aesthetics for centuries. One of the most influential thinkers on this subject was Longinus, a Greek philosopher and literary critic who lived in the first century AD. In his work “On the Sublime,” Longinus explored the idea that great literature has the power to evoke a sense of awe and wonder in its readers.

At its core, the concept of the sublime is about the experience of encountering something that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. It is a feeling of being overwhelmed by the majesty and grandeur of something beyond our comprehension. In literature, the sublime is often associated with descriptions of natural phenomena, such as mountains, storms, and oceans. These descriptions are meant to evoke a sense of the vastness and power of nature, which can be both beautiful and intimidating.

Longinus believed that the sublime was a key element of great literature. He argued that it was the responsibility of the writer to use language in a way that would inspire a sense of awe in the reader. He believed that this could be achieved through the use of certain techniques, such as the use of grand metaphors and the use of elevated language. Longinus also believed that the use of vivid and detailed descriptions was essential to creating a sense of the sublime in the reader.

One of the key aspects of Longinus’ concept of the sublime was the idea that it had the power to transport the reader beyond their everyday experience. He believed that encountering the sublime in literature could inspire a sense of transcendence and connect the reader to something greater than themselves. This was particularly important for Longinus, who saw literature as a means of elevating the human spirit and promoting moral and spiritual growth.

Longinus’ concept of the sublime has had a lasting impact on literary criticism and aesthetics. It has inspired countless writers and thinkers to explore the power of language to evoke a sense of wonder and awe in the reader. It has also been the subject of ongoing debate and discussion, with some critics questioning the role of the sublime in literature and others arguing that it remains a vital element of great writing.

The Theory Of Sublime From Longinus To Kant

The concept of the sublime has been an important topic in philosophy and aesthetics for centuries, with many influential thinkers exploring its meaning and significance. Two of the most significant figures in this conversation are Longinus and Immanuel Kant, who each offered their own unique perspectives on the sublime.

Longinus, a Greek philosopher, and literary critic who lived in the first century AD saw the sublime as a feeling of grandeur and awe that is inspired by encountering something that is beyond human understanding or control. He believed that great literature had the power to evoke this sense of awe in its readers and that the use of vivid and detailed descriptions was essential to creating a sense of the sublime. Longinus also saw the sublime as a means of elevating the human spirit and promoting moral and spiritual growth.

Immanuel Kant, an 18th-century German philosopher, built on Longinus’ ideas and developed his own influential theory of the sublime. Kant saw the sublime as a feeling of pleasure that is mixed with pain or fear, and which is inspired by encountering something that is both overwhelming and indeterminate. Kant believed that the sublime was different from the beautiful, which he saw as characterized by harmony, proportion, and clarity.

Kant saw the experience of the sublime as an important way of connecting with the infinite and transcendent aspects of the world. He argued that the feeling of the sublime was linked to our capacity for reason and that encountering the sublime in nature or art could inspire a sense of moral and spiritual elevation. Kant also believed that the sublime had important implications for our understanding of aesthetics, arguing that it was a way of experiencing the limits of human understanding and of recognizing the power and majesty of the natural world.

Overall, the theory of the sublime has been an important topic in philosophy and aesthetics, with many influential thinkers exploring its meaning and significance. While Longinus and Kant had different perspectives on the sublime, they both recognized its power to inspire awe and wonder and to connect us to something greater than ourselves.

Important MCQs On The Concept Of Sublime By Longinus

Who was Longinus?

A. A Greek philosopher and literary critic.

B. An 18th-century German philosopher.

C. An English poet.

D. A French philosopher.

Answer: A. A Greek philosopher and literary critic.

According to Longinus, what is the sublime?

A. A feeling of pleasure mixed with pain or fear.

B. A feeling of grandeur and awe inspired by encountering something beyond human understanding.

C. A sense of harmony, proportion, and clarity.

D. A feeling of spiritual elevation.

Answer: B. A feeling of grandeur and awe inspired by encountering something beyond human understanding.

What does Longinus believe is necessary to create a sense of the sublime in literature?

A. The use of elevated language and grand metaphors.

B. The use of clear and concise language.

C. The use of repetition and rhyme.

D. The use of simple and straightforward descriptions.

Answer: A. The use of elevated language and grand metaphors.

What is the difference between the sublime and the beautiful, according to Kant?

A. The sublime is characterized by harmony, proportion, and clarity, while the beautiful is overwhelming and indeterminate.

B. The sublime inspires a sense of moral and spiritual elevation, while the beautiful is linked to reason.

C. The sublime is a feeling of pleasure mixed with pain or fear, while the beautiful is characterized by harmony and proportion.

D. The sublime is overwhelming and indeterminate, while the beautiful is characterized by clarity and order.

Answer: D. The sublime is overwhelming and indeterminate, while the beautiful is characterized by clarity and order.

What is the significance of the sublime, according to Longinus and Kant?

A. It is a way of elevating the human spirit and promoting moral and spiritual growth.

B. It is a means of recognizing the limits of human understanding and the power of the natural world.

C. It is a way of experiencing the transcendent and infinite aspects of the world.

D. All of the above.

Answer: D. All of the above.

Important MCQs On The Concept Of Sublime By Longinus For UGC NET English Literature

Who is credited with developing the concept of the sublime in literature?

A. William Wordsworth

B. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

C. Edmund Burke

D. Longinus

Answer: D. Longinus

According to Longinus, what is the effect of sublime writing on the reader?

A. It creates a sense of beauty and harmony.

B. It evokes a feeling of fear and dread.

C. It inspires a sense of grandeur and awe.

D. It promotes moral and spiritual growth.

Answer: C. It inspires a sense of grandeur and awe.

How does Longinus define the sublime?

A. As a feeling of pleasure mixed with pain or fear.

B. As a feeling of grandeur and awe inspired by encountering something beyond human understanding.

C. As a sense of harmony, proportion, and clarity.

D. As a feeling of spiritual elevation.

Answer: B. As a feeling of grandeur and awe inspired by encountering something beyond human understanding.

According to Longinus, what is necessary to create a sense of the sublime in literature?

A. The use of elevated language and grand metaphors.

B. The use of clear and concise language.

C. The use of repetition and rhyme.

D. The use of simple and straightforward descriptions.

Answer: A. The use of elevated language and grand metaphors.

How does Kant’s theory of the sublime differ from Longinus’?

A. Kant saw the sublime as a way of connecting with the infinite and transcendent aspects of the world, while Longinus saw it as a means of elevating the human spirit.

B. Kant believed that the sublime was characterized by harmony, proportion, and clarity, while Longinus saw it as overwhelming and indeterminate.

C. Kant saw the sublime as a feeling of pleasure mixed with pain or fear, while Longinus saw it as a feeling of grandeur and awe.

D. There is no difference between Kant’s theory and Longinus’.

Answer: C. Kant saw the sublime as a feeling of pleasure mixed with pain or fear, while Longinus saw it as a feeling of grandeur and awe.

Also, check out UGC NET English Literature Syllabus

Final Words

In conclusion, Longinus‘ concept of the sublime is an important contribution to our understanding of the power of literature to inspire and uplift the human spirit. It reminds us that great writing can evoke a sense of wonder and awe in the reader, connecting us to something greater than ourselves and inspiring us to strive for the highest ideals of human existence.

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