Sentimentality, Sentimentalism

Literary/ Cultural Context Note

Litencyc Editors (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Domains

Movements, styles and periods (literature)

Dates

Date of occurrence 1740-1780

Places

United Kingdom (Location)

A literary tendency of the late eighteenth century which found pleasure in sympathising with suffering. The emotion was soon derided and considered pathetic, but the benevolent concern with human goodness can now be seen as a way station on the road to a more humane and just society. Prime examples of sentimental novels are Oliver Goldsmith, The Vicar of Wakefield, Henry Mackenzie, The Man of Feeling, Laurence Sterne, A Sentimental Journey. This topic is given extensive consideration in the entry for Sensibility.

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82 words

Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Sentimentality, Sentimentalism". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 November 2003 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1004, accessed 23 November 2024.]

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Sentimentality, Sentimentalism

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