Sentimentality

Definition

Sentimentality refers to the excessive expression of feelings, particularly emotions like tenderness, nostalgia, or sorrow, often in a way that seems superficial or overly emotional. In the context of literature, it embodies a style that aims to evoke strong emotional responses from the audience, sometimes sacrificing depth and realism for emotional impact. This emphasis on heightened emotion is a key characteristic of French Romanticism, reflecting a desire to connect deeply with human experience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sentimentality became prominent during the Romantic period as writers sought to emphasize personal emotions and subjective experiences.
2. French Romantic literature often features characters who experience intense emotions, reflecting societal changes and individual struggles of the time.
3. Critics sometimes view sentimentality as a flaw, arguing that it can overshadow character development and narrative depth.
4. While sentimentality aims to engage readers on an emotional level, it can also lead to clichés if not executed with authenticity.
5. Writers such as Victor Hugo and George Sand utilized sentimentality to address social issues, intertwining emotional depth with themes of love, loss, and human suffering.

Review Questions

• How does sentimentality reflect the values of Romanticism in literature?
  • Sentimentality reflects Romanticism's values by prioritizing emotion over reason, emphasizing personal feelings and experiences. It highlights how individuals connect deeply with their emotions in response to the beauty and suffering in life. Romantic authors often portrayed characters who grapple with intense feelings, illustrating a break from Enlightenment ideals and embracing a more passionate view of human existence.
• In what ways can sentimentality enhance or detract from a literary work's impact?
  • Sentimentality can enhance a literary work by creating powerful emotional connections between readers and characters, making themes of love and suffering more relatable. However, it can also detract from the work's overall quality if used excessively, leading to melodrama or cliché. Balancing heartfelt moments with authentic character development is crucial for achieving a genuine emotional response without compromising narrative depth.
• Evaluate how sentimentality was used by specific French Romantic authors to address social issues of their time.
  • French Romantic authors like Victor Hugo employed sentimentality effectively to address social issues such as poverty and injustice. By infusing their narratives with deep emotional struggles, they engaged readers' empathy for marginalized characters. For instance, in 'Les Misérables', Hugo uses sentimentality to evoke compassion for the plight of Jean Valjean and Fantine, showcasing how personal experiences intersect with broader societal challenges. This approach not only highlights individual suffering but also calls for social change through shared emotional understanding.

Related terms

Romanticism: An artistic and intellectual movement that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment.

Melodrama: A dramatic form that emphasizes sensational and exaggerated emotions, often characterized by clear-cut moral distinctions and an appeal to audience sentiment.

Pathos: A rhetorical device that evokes pity or sadness in an audience, often used in literature and art to generate an emotional connection with the subject matter.