ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

LITERATURE QUESTIONS

LITERARY THEORY AND CRITICISM

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Name the work by Longinus?
A
On the Sublime
B
Sublime
C
The History of Literary Criticism
D
Sublime and Thought
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -On the Sublime, Greek Peri hypsous, treatise on literary criticism by Longinus, dating to about the 1st century ce. The earliest surviving manuscript, from the 10th century, was first printed in 1554.

Detailed explanation-2: -Longinus defines sublimity (Greek hypsos) in literature as “the echo of greatness of spirit, ” that is, the moral and imaginative power of the writer that pervades a work. Thus, for the first time greatness in literature is ascribed to qualities innate in the writer rather than in the art.

Detailed explanation-3: -Finally, Longinus sets out five sources of sublimity: “great thoughts, strong emotions, certain figures of thought and speech, noble diction, and dignified word arrangement".

Detailed explanation-4: -Written as an epistolary piece to “dear Terentianus, ” “On the Sublime” examines the work of more than 50 ancient writers under the lens of the sublime, which Longinus defines as man’s ability, through feeling and words, to reach beyond the realm of the human condition into greater mystery.

Detailed explanation-5: -Longinus proposes five sources that can lead to great writing: great thoughts, strong emotions, noble diction, effective word arrangement, and figures of speech.

There is 1 question to complete.