Sublime Worlds: Early Modern French Literature

TLDR

Language that moves us profoundly requires a response, a phenomenon that has fascinated writers and became the subject of the classical treatise On the Sublime attributed to Longinus. The study examines the text of On the Sublime in relation to the works of Corneille, Pascal, and Boileau. She provides intimate critical readings of each author’s work, leading to broad interrogations of knowledge and experience in early modern French literature.

Abstract

Some of the language we come across, in reading other peoples' works or listening to others speak, moves us profoundly. It requires a response from us; it occupies and involves us. Writers, always readers and listeners as well, are fascinated by this phenomenon, which became the subject of the classical treatise On the Sublime , traditionally attributed to Longinus. Emma Gilby looks at this compelling and complex text in relation to the work of three major seventeenth-century authors: Pierre Corneille, Blaise Pascal and Nicolas Boileau. She offers, in each case, intimate critical readings which spin out into broad interrogations about knowledge and experience in early modern French literature.