Longinus identifies five principal sources of the sublime in his work 'On the Sublime'. These include grandeur of thought, the capacity for strong emotion, the appropriate use of figures of speech, nobility of diction, and dignified word arrangement. Together, these elements elevate a literary work to a level of greatness that transcends ordinary expression, evoking awe and profound emotional impact in the reader.

Longinus identifies five sources of the sublime in his classical text. These include the ability to conceive great thoughts, the capacity for strong and inspired emotion, the proper use of figures of speech, noble diction (choice of words), and the dignified arrangement of words. Together, these elements elevate language beyond the ordinary, allowing the writer to achieve a sense of grandeur and emotional intensity that transcends standard rhetorical practice.

The treatise 'On the Sublime' (Peri Hypsous) is a classical work of literary criticism traditionally attributed to Longinus. It was written in Ancient Greek during the first century AD and remains a seminal text regarding the nature of rhetorical excellence and emotional impact in literature.

Radcliffe distinguishes between terror and horror by emphasizing their psychological impact. She argues that terror, characterized by uncertainty and the unknown, expands the soul and stimulates the imagination. Conversely, horror, often associated with graphic or repulsive imagery, freezes the faculties and fails to elicit the transformative, expansive effect on the soul that terror achieves.

Longinus emphasizes that while technical skill and rhetorical devices are important, the presence of genuine, powerful emotion is the most vital component for achieving loftiness. He argues that true sublimity must resonate with the reader's soul, which is best accomplished when the writer expresses authentic passion rather than relying solely on artificial stylistic embellishments.

Although 'On the Sublime' (attributed to Longinus) is an ancient Greek text, it is frequently associated with the 'Romantic' approach in literary history. This is because it emphasizes emotional intensity, the power of the imagination, and the 'transport' of the reader, qualities that were highly valued by Romantic critics and poets, contrasting with the more rigid, rule-bound focus of Neoclassical criticism.

The treatise 'On the Sublime', traditionally attributed to Longinus, is widely believed by scholars to have been written in the 1st Century AD. It remains one of the most significant works of classical literary criticism, focusing on the aesthetic quality of greatness in literature and rhetoric, and it has profoundly influenced Western literary theory regarding the nature of artistic excellence and emotional intensity.

The sublime in Gothic literature refers to an experience of overwhelming awe and terror that transcends ordinary perception. It induces a state of 'elestasis' or transport, where the individual feels small in the face of vast, powerful, or mysterious forces, effectively capturing the emotional intensity that Gothic authors sought to evoke in their readers.

For Longinus, sublimity is not merely an accidental quality but a result of deliberate and masterful composition. It represents the pinnacle of artistic achievement where the writer's structural choices, language, and thought processes align to create a profound, lasting impact on the audience. It is the culmination of disciplined craft and innate genius working in harmony.

Longinus, in his treatise 'On the Sublime', discusses the impact of rhythm and meter on the grandeur of language. He identifies the dactylic hexameter as a particularly noble and majestic meter, often associated with epic poetry, which contributes to the overall 'sublime' effect of a literary work through its balanced and flowing structure.