Longinus - On the Sublime: Longinus discusses the role of imitation in achieving sublimity. How does his concept of imitation differ from a purely mechanical copying of earlier models?
1
Longinus advocates for slavish imitation of past masters as the sole path to sublimity.
2
Longinus suggests a transformative imitation, where the writer absorbs the spirit and power of great predecessors and reworks their essence with their own unique voice and genius, aiming not merely to copy but to emulate and even surpass them in moments of inspired creation.
3
Longinus believed that originality was the only true source of the sublime, rejecting the value of imitation.
4
Longinus's concept of imitation is primarily concerned with mimicking natural phenomena.