TERM PAPER
TERM PAPER
CRITICAL TRANSACTION : ARISTOTLE TO ELIOT
Longinus:
On Sublimity
Yasir Siddeequee AC
I MA ECL
LCL051517
INTRODUCTION
On Sublimity is
one of the most influential classical works in the tradition of European
literature. It is regarded as the first
properly arranged theoretical discussion about the function of Oratory and
Literature.
There is uncertainty
around the authorship of On Sublimity and
the period it was written. But it is attributed to the Longinus, a Greek literary
critic or a teacher of rhetoric who may have lived in the first or third
century A.D. Travelling was his passion. He attended lectures on Philosophy from
Athens, Rome, Alexandria which undoubtedly shaped his views and beliefs.
One of the significant
features of text is the favorable commentary on the role of emotion in the
practice of writing, oratory and reading. His points are from the author centric
point of view.
Written in the
epistolary form to a Roman friend Postumius Terentianus, On Sublimity is both treatise on aesthetics and literary criticism.
No details are available about his
friend. The work was originally written in Greek and unaware about until 16th
century.
ON THE SUBLIMITY
Longinus talks about the function of literature in his
work. Before him the function literature was, if it is poetry to delight or to
instruct or to do both, and if it was prose to persuade. ‘To instruct, persuade
and delight was considered as the aim of writers and orators, but he uses the
word sublimity instead. Longinus defines sublimity as the “Eminence or
Excellence in discourse”. Sublimity,
produced at the right moment, tears everything up like a whirlwind, and
exhibits the orator's whole power at a single blow. Writers and orators achieve
greatness not only through rhetorical techniques, but by deep feelings,
profound thought and natural genius. Longinus proclaims “sublimity is the echo
of noble mind”. Sublimity uplifts the spirit of reader by filling him with
unexpected astonishment and pride which will grove in him noble thoughts. Art
withstands ages and author becomes eternal by the sublimity in their work.
Longinus’
ideas differ from the concepts of all-time great philosophers Plato, Aristotle
and Horace. Longinus differs fundamentally from Plato, who abandons poets and
irrational flights of poetic inspiration and bans poets from his ideal state
republic. Longinus says that Plato himself was carried out by “literary
madness”. Homer stresses on rhetorical techniques than genius, Longinus focus
both genius of authors and rhetorical techniques. He was more likely to
Aristotle’ Poetics which focus on catharsis and audience experience. More than
that Longinus considers authors experience also.
Longinus
emphasizes the uncontrollable emotions amazement and wonder. He says Grandeur
produces ecstasy rather than persuasion in the reader. Grandeur, he says is the
combination of wonder and astonishment which is superior to the mere
persuasion.
There
were views against the techniques and laws that ‘Greatness (Sublimity) is
natural or innate and cannot acquire by teaching. He refutes these views by 3
statements.
1. Nature
itself works on a whole law to herself. It works by a method, not by any random
force.
2. She
gets perfected in training and application. Nature herself in every instance is
a primary element of creation.
3. Grandeur
is dangerous when it left itself without accompanied by the knowledge. As Demosthenes
told “good fortune is the greatest of blessings, but good counsel comes next,
and the lack of it destroys the other also”. But in literature good nature is
greatest blessing and art/training comes next, lack of it destroys others too.
Some
Marks of true sublimity
A work of literature
can be judged only after long experience. People exile, exalt and elevate by
the true sublimity. Great sublimity contains much space for reflection and
makes strong and impeccable impression on the memory. “Real sublimity contains
much food for reflection, is difficult or rather impossible to resist, and
makes a strong and ineffaceable impression on the memory”. Longinus then argues that true sublimity is
universal and it transcends ages and places. People living in different places
in various ages agree something common, and then the admiration is rightly
directed. He is speaking of some
archetypical material.
Longinus finds five
principle sources of sublimity. Competence in speaking is the foundation of all
these sources and nothing can be achieved without it.
1.
Power to conceive great thoughts.
2.
Strong and inspired emotions.
3.
Certain kinds of figures of thought and
speech.
4.
Noble diction.
5.
Dignified and elevated word arrangement.
Among these the first two denotes the qualities which have
their origin naturally and the later three represents the qualities which are
to be acquired by practice and conscious effort. Longinus then examines all the
five statements. First of all he says about the grandeur of thought. It is the
matter endorsed to each one. We should make our minds in direction towards
noble thoughts. An orator or writer must not have dishonorable thoughts.
“Sublimity is the echo of noble minds”. Only by noble thoughts men will able to
achieve greatest thoughts. People with low thoughts and habit can ‘not produce
anything admirable or worthy of eternity. He says “words will be great if
thoughts are weighing”. After this he
speaks about the Importance of emotions. There is nothing as productive of
grandeur as emotion in right place. It inspires us and possesses our words with
madness and divine spirit. Caecilians, an ancient philosopher thought emotions
has no contribution to make sublimity was wrong according to Longinus. Longinus
mentions the poems of Sappho’s of complex emotions, not of single emotion. His
favorable commentary on the role of emotions is one of the distinctive features
of On Sublimity. He considers
emotions as the essential part of the sublimity. After this he speaks about the
importance of the selection and organization of material. Poet should select
the relevant material and organize them into a unifying whole. Writers should
take their best pieces, polish them and fit it together in a dignifying manner.
He shouldn’t consider the inflated, undignified and pedantic materials. Longinus proposes the concept of amplification.
Rhetoricians defines amplification as an ‘expression which adds grandeur to its
subject'. Amplification in literature is
the process of exaggeration; that is to present something with a lot of starts
and pauses. Amplification
cannot exist without a certain quantity and superfluity. Amplification cannot
exist independently and is only for supporting the sublimity.
Longinus then points out that imitation of ancient
writers as the method to achieve sublimity. Imitation of great ancient writers
will guide the writings. Longinus says that “the genius of ancient writers can
be taken as a treasure of knowledge for the present writers and they can accept
inspirations from them”. Even the ancient great writers like Plato and Homer
had inspired from their predecessors. Plato wouldn’t be such brilliant if he
had not tried to compete with Homer. However, this doesn’t imply plagiarism
instead it means only a reproduction of the good ideas in the great works of
art. He gives method that can be applied ourselves. When we are working for
something needs loftiness of expression imagine how Plato or other great ones
would have said with sublimity. This will evaluate our minds to greatness of
which we form mental image. Or just imagine that jury or audience asking
questions for what you have written.
Next
he moves to the topic of discussion on the figure of speeches and their
relevance in accordance with sublimity. And way one can achieve the sublimity.
Using proper figures of speech one can change the whole effect of the artistic
work. There exist a mutual relation between figures of speech and the sublimity
and both benefits each other. The problem with the figures of speech is that
they arouse fallacy and misunderstanding, but when they accompany with
sublimity they reduces tricky and suspicious nature. As a continuation of the section of figures
then Longinus discusses about hyperbaton. Hyperbaton refers to the arrangement
of words or thoughts which differs from the normal sequence. The order and
sequence of words have immense importance in literature. By changing the
arrangement of words we can even improve the effectiveness of our work.
According to Longinus Demosthenes was an expert of this method. He used to keep
the original meaning as suspense. Before reaching to the main point he touches
many unwanted areas and finally brings them to what he set out to convey. After
discussing the role of hyperbaton in arousing sublimity Longinus says about the
relevance of noble diction in relation to sublimity. Diction means the choice
of words. By selecting the appropriate words we can effectively present even
the most barren subject as a pleasant one. The usage of appropriate words which
suit to the context can evoke grandeur, beauty, weight, force and strength in a
piece of literature. According to him noble diction can give life to the ideas
and make them speak. It can also attach a special charm, even to the trivial
things.
Then
Longinus says about the use of everyday words in literature. Use of everyday
words can also make a piece of literature very much expressive before its
readers. Hence for Longinus it is a very useful and effective technique. He
also does favorable commentary on use of metaphors. Metaphors can glorify the
common places and normal things in our life. . A defect of metaphor that
Longinus points out is its tendency to make the things more complicate and
Plato has been criticized for complicating the plot by the overuse of
metaphors.
He
then speaks about the meritocracy in artistic production. Nature doesn’t made man to be humble or a
lowly creature, but brought into a life as a great festival, to be both
spectacle and contestant in its competitions. Nature implanted in our mind an
irresistible desire for everything is which is great. He is not only spectator,
for him the nature is the source of inspiration to do things, to dream more. Man’s
mind is always behind the extraordinary and it’s the ordinary that excites his
wonder. Hence in literature also he possesses an affinity towards the
greatness. In the opinion of Longinus sublimity is the greatest of literary
qualities, because it rises towards the spiritual greatness of God. The quality
of sublimity covers all the errors and mistakes of great authors like Plato and
Aristotle. Longinus concludes that literature is one of the tools provided to the
man for seeking eternity and divinity.
In
the ending section of his treatise Longinus discusses the fifth source of
sublimity defined by him, that is the dignified and elevated word arrangement.
Its subdivisions include the effect of rhythm and effect of period structure.
While dealing with the effect of rhythm he states that as the harmony of
musical instruments, writing also should aim to attain a harmony of words. Here
Longinus emphasizes on the role of rhythm in producing sublimity and get a
complete domination of our minds.
Longinus
points that freedom from error doesn’t save us from blame. But it is greatness
that wins admiration. Great genius in literature In spite of all their faults,
tower far above the mortal stature by their grandeur and sublimlity.
CONCLUSION
Through
the ancient critical work On Sublimity, Longinus
defines and analyses the various facets of the quality called ‘sublimity’ in
artistic production. It is the “eminence or excellence in discourse”. He sees
sublimity as the goal of an artistic work. He provides the five sources of
sublimity such as power to conceive great thoughts, strong and inspired
emotion, figures of thought and speech, noble diction, dignified and elevated
word arrangement. He combines both the natural inborn talents and qualities
that can be achieved by efforts as the sources of sublimity. He states that
it’s through the quality sublimity a work of art withstands ages and it raises
us towards spiritual greatness of God.
Bibliography
·
Godolphin, F. (1937). The Basic Critical
Doctrine of "'Longinus"',On the sublime. Transactions and
Proceedings of American Philological Association , 172-183.
·
Leitch, V. B. (Ed.). (2001). The
Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Newyork, U.S.A: W.W Norton&
company,Inc.
·
Shaw, P. (2oo7). The Sublime.
Newyork .Taylor and Francis e-library.
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