Longinus

A HISTORY OF LITERARY CRITICISM—HARRY BLAMIERS

UNIT I

S. Sreekumar

This is a part of the summary of the first chapter of the book by Harry Blamiers. The rest of the summary will be published later.  
Longinus

Introduction

The identity of Longinus is not clear. But for modern readers, he is more familiar than Plato, Aristotle or Horace. The tract ‘On the Sublime’ is associated with Longinus, whatever may be his identity.

Longinus lists the ingredients of sublimity thus:

1. Grandeur of thought.

This he considers the ‘concomitant (connected, related) of a great soul’. Longinus quotes examples from Homer to point out that when a great soul is truly inspired, he lays before the reader what could have been conceived only by a man of noble spirit.

2. Powerful emotion.

Nothing is equal to strong emotion when it is suitable to the material. This emotion fills the subject with divine ecstasy.

Grandeur of thought and strong emotion derive from native gifts.

3. Mastery of style and methods of presentation.

4. ‘Acute sensitivity to the qualities of words’ and to ‘the potentialities of imagery.

5. ‘The orderly placing of words, the ear for rhythm and cadence, sonority and roundedness, aural architecture and fluency.

Longinus’ unique contribution

1. He places imaginative literature on a higher pedestal. The literature that follows rules and precepts can never outshine imaginative literature.

2. The poet must possess individual genius. However, this has to be accompanied by quality of vision and understanding.

3. Qualities of inspiration, animation and imaginative reach have to be given due priority when judging the accomplishments of a poet.

4. Great poetry does not merely satisfy. It astonishes enraptures and exalts the reader.

5. Even occasional bursts of sublimity is far better than a steady level of unexciting, pedestrian competence.

Conclusion

Longinus’ preference for sublimity (even occasional) over pedestrian competence has been much appreciated by generations of critics. Dryden , Pope, and Gibbon acknowledged the worth of Longinus in the Augustan age when Horace was considered the master craftsman. Longinus was an inspirational writer who influenced many. As a critic he was eminently creative. In the nineteenth century, Romantic literature held him in high esteem.

This is based on the lecture notes given to Graduate students.