On the Sublime

On the Sublime makes prescriptions for great writing. Based on his criteria, does Longinus’s own writing in the treatise qualify as great? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your conclusion.

Identify a passage from the treatise in which Longinus’s writing style illustrates the same literary quality he is discussing. Choose three to five instances where he uses that literary device, and describe its effect on his message.

Write a brief, simple, facts-only paragraph about a person or place you know well. Alternatively, select a short paragraph from an ad, website, or news article. Then choose three of the literary devices Longinus describes. Rewrite your paragraph, using the literary devices you’ve selected to elaborate on and enhance your original text. Finally, explain how you used each literary device, and why you chose it.