On the Sublime

"On the Sublime" by Longinus is a timeless exploration of what makes great writing truly exceptional. It examines the idea of the sublime in literature, especially in inspiring poetry and powerful speeches. The book begins by stating the purpose of looking into what makes writing impressive and points out another writer's flaws regarding the subject. The author highlights the need to both define what makes something sublime and show how to get there. It suggests that amazing language takes readers to a higher level, far past just understanding, and fills them with strong feelings. While some think you're just born with the skills to create sublimity; the author believes that it can be learned and improved with learning and trying. This sets the scene for a deeper look into where literary greatness comes from and what it looks like.