Students in literary studies frequently come across Plato, Aristotle and Longinus, either directly through their names and concepts or indirectly, in the work of writers and theorists responding to them. Eaglestone argues that while great thinkers of antiquity may seem far away, their ideas still shape how we think about literature and culture even today. Contemporary examples illustrate the meaning of the original texts and highlight their continuous relevance.

Robert Eaglestone is Professor of Contemporary Literature and Thought at Royal Holloway, University of London and works on contemporary literature and literary theory, contemporary philosophy and on Holocaust and Genocide studies.

Why Plato, Aristotle and Longinus Chapter 1: Plato: Origin and ideas Chapter 2: Plato's Literary Influence Chapter 3: Plato Today Chapter 4: Aristotle: ethics and poetics Chapter 5: Aristotle: stories and values Chapter 6: Aristotle: understanding stories Chapter 7: Longinus and the Sublime Chapter 8: The Sublime today After Plato, Aristotle and Longinus Annotated Bibliography