Write a note on the contribution of Longinus.

Longinus asks quite different questions about literature from those asked by Plato and
Aristotle. His vision is large. He constantly views poetry in relation to the author and the time
of the author. He makes use of both the historical and thought provoking comments.
His mind is free from prejudice. A great deal of his work is original and illuminating and
is of permanent or universal significance. He attaches importance to emotion, imagination
and beauty of words. He thus becomes a pioneer in the field of aesthetic appreciation. He
finds the permanent and universal qualities in the works of Homer. According to him, the
function of literature is not didactic (EDUCATIONAL), but aesthetic (the beauty of the art for
the sake of Art).
He is a romantic critic because he believes in the romantic function of literature and
discards(rejects) the moral function of literature. But he joins romanticism with classicism.
On the one side, there is importance for emotion, on the other hand, there is importance for
grandeur. "He is subjective rather than objective. He is the first European critic who gave
particular prominence to creative faculty of man which the romantic poets call
imagination.

According to Longinus, the purpose of the greatest writers has been to introduce, to
delight and to persuade. But their greatness lies in sublimity. Sublimity is the echo of a
great soul, of a lofy mind; it is not merely an excellence in language. It is the note that rings
from a great mind. It lies in intensity—"on a certain distinction and consummation
of excellence in expression." A work of genius must aim at ecstasy. It is the combination of 
the true, the good and the beautiful that makes a work sublime.
Longinus discovers five main sources of the sublime—grandeur of thought, capacity for
strong emotion, appropriate use of figures of speech, nobility of diction and dignified and
elaborated composition.
Without grandeur of thought the writer cannot soar to great heights. Great accents
fall from the lips of those whose thoughts have always been deep and full of majesty. The truly
eloquent must be free from low and ignoble thoughts. Only noble thoughts can lead to noble
ideas which will ultimately lead to the noble deeds.
Sublime thought can be attained by strong emotions—emotions such as fear,
grief, pity are far removed from the sublime. A writer who indulges in avoiding such inferior
type of emotions falls close to the standard of the sublime.
Figures of speech are the artistic aids to sublimity. The chief figures are the rhetorical
questions, hyperbatons, apostrophe, and peripherisis. The figures of speech should be
carefully used.
Diction includes choice and arrangement of words as well as the use of figures of
speech. Verbal magic has its own effect. Diction relates to style. Style is the wise and
systematic selection of the most important elements, events or passions into a single whole.
The use of questions and answers often makes the speeches more effective and impressive.
A work of art should be harmonious and complete. For this, it should have a dignified
and elaborate composition. It should have sufficient length. Here Longinus has perhaps
Aristotle in his mind. Aristotle also says that the plot should have a beginning, a middle and
an end. By arrangement and composition Aristotle means verbal order which is usually called
rhythm. Words must be harmoniously set, for the resulting harmony is a natural instrument.
Not only of persuasion and pleasure but also of lofty emotion. Such a harmonious
combination of words appeals to the soul and enables the reader to share in the emotions of
the author. At last, Longinus warns against extreme conciseness of expression : it cramps and
cripples the thought.