Victorian Sentimentality

Definition

Victorian sentimentality refers to a cultural and literary movement during the Victorian era characterized by an emphasis on emotional expression, morality, and the celebration of domestic life. It often portrayed strong feelings such as love, compassion, and nostalgia, resonating deeply with the middle-class values of the time. This movement played a significant role in shaping the revival of epic forms during the Romantic and Victorian periods, as writers sought to connect grand narratives with personal emotion and moral lessons.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Victorian sentimentality was often reflected in literature through themes of love, family, and moral integrity, encouraging readers to engage emotionally with characters and their struggles.
2. Many Victorian authors, like Charles Dickens and George Eliot, incorporated sentimentality into their works to highlight social issues and evoke empathy from their readers.
3. The movement also influenced visual arts, with paintings often depicting idealized domestic scenes that emphasized emotional connections within families.
4. Victorian sentimentality fostered a sense of nostalgia for simpler times, contributing to a collective cultural memory that valued emotional bonds and moral righteousness.
5. As a reaction against industrialization and societal changes, this sentimentality offered a refuge in traditional values and deep emotional ties, linking back to earlier epic traditions.

Review Questions

• How did Victorian sentimentality influence the portrayal of characters and themes in literature during this period?
  • Victorian sentimentality greatly influenced literature by focusing on emotional depth in character development and thematic exploration. Authors created relatable characters whose moral struggles often reflected the values of love, compassion, and familial ties. This approach enabled writers to engage readers on a personal level, allowing for an emotional connection that was central to Victorian storytelling.
• Discuss how Victorian sentimentality reflects the societal changes occurring during the era, particularly in relation to industrialization.
  • Victorian sentimentality emerged as a response to the rapid changes brought about by industrialization, which often led to feelings of alienation. By emphasizing emotional connections and traditional values such as family life, this movement provided a counterbalance to the impersonal nature of industrial society. It allowed individuals to find solace in nostalgic depictions of domestic life while critiquing social issues prevalent in urban environments.
• Evaluate the impact of Victorian sentimentality on the revival of epic forms in literature during the Romantic and Victorian periods.
  • Victorian sentimentality significantly impacted the revival of epic forms by merging grand narratives with deeply personal emotions. Authors sought to elevate everyday experiences into epic tales that resonated with moral lessons while reflecting individual emotional journeys. This blending not only honored traditional epic storytelling but also made it accessible by grounding larger-than-life themes in relatable human experiences, thereby enriching both forms.

Related terms

Sentimentalism: A literary style that emphasizes emotional responses over rationality, often aiming to provoke deep feelings in the audience.

Romanticism: An artistic and intellectual movement that prioritized individual emotion and nature over classical ideals and reason, influencing literature and art throughout the 19th century.

Melodrama: A dramatic work characterized by exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions of the audience, often intertwining with themes of moral conflict.