Amplification and Basic Drama

Something random and a little silly, but I thought I'd put the question out there all the same because it peaked my interest.

Longinus defines amplification, as he calls it, as "and aggregation of all the details and topics which constitute a situation strengthening the argument by dwelling on it".  It is also built up, in some situations, "by a build-up of action or emotions" and it differs from sublimity in that sublimity depends on elevation, whereas amplification involves extension; sublimity often exists in a single thought" (354).  So, I suppose in a written work, amplification can exist without sublimity, it would just not be particularly good writing.  Sublimity, however, probably could not exist as easily without amplification.  Even if it can exist in a single moment, all the build up of the amplification may result in making it that much more powerful and atmospheric a moment.

This got me to thinking that, in terms of fiction, drama and classical epics and stories, that amplification may be something similar to the rising action of the basic plot diagram.  You know, the one that starts with the flat horizontal line of exposition, then it shoots up into the rising action, peaks at the climax, and then goes down again in the falling action toward the ending/resolution.  I know that Longinus refers to speeches, rallies, and other written work besides fiction, but when it comes to dramatic fiction is there not an attempt to "wheel up one impressive unit after another to give a series of increasing importance"(354)? And when I mention that amplification can exist without sublimity, I connect that to drama that is either uninteresting but still carries that intensification of plot, or even worse, the kind of bad drama where the build-up is really good but the payoff is terrible (a.k.a a lot of Stephen King's stuff).

But when amplification exists with sublimity, that's the drama that really moves people and transcends them emotionally.  I know it's a bit theatrical, but that was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read about Longinus' amplification.  What do you guys think?  How would you apply amplification to drama and fiction?  Can sublimity exist in fiction without amplification?  Can amplification exist without sublimity?  Where does the term "catharsis" play into this emotional and intellectual transcendence that Longinus says that readers/hearers are meant to have when encountering sublimity play into all of this?