Classical Literary Criticism

lsquo;Sublimity is the echo of a noble mindrsquo;

The works collected in this volume have profoundly shaped the history of criticism in the Western world: they created much of the terminology still in use today and formulated enduring questions about the nature and function of literature. In Ion, Plato examines the god-like power of poets to evoke feelings such as pleasure or fear, yet he went on to attack this manipulation of emotions and banished poets from his ideal Republic. Aristotle defends the value of art in his Poetics, and his analysis of tragedy has influenced generations of critics from the Renaissance onwards. In the Art of Poetry, Horace promotes a style of poetic craftsmanship rooted in wisdom, ethical insight and decorum, while Longinusrsquo; On the Sublime explores the nature of inspiration in poetry and prose.

This edition of these landmarks texts includes an introduction by Penelope Murray, which discusses the literary background since Homer and sets the work of each critic in context. It also includes suggestions for further reading, a chronology and explanatory notes.

Translated by Penelope Murray and T.S. Dorsch, with an Introduction and Notes by Penelope Murray

Introduction
1. Homer and the Early Greek Poets
2. Aristophanes
3. Gorgias and the Sophists
4. Plato
5. Aristotle
6. The Alexandrians
7. Horace
8. Longinus
9. Epilogue

Further Reading

Literary Chronology

Plato
Ion
Republic 2
Republic 3
Republic 10

Aristotle
Poetics

Horace
The Art of Poetry

Longinus
On the Sublime

Notes