Concetti Chiave
- The novel was influenced by 18th-century sentimentalism, focusing on themes designed to evoke strong emotional responses.
- "A Sentimental Journey" by Sterne is a prime example of this trend, blending diary elements with a sentimentalized autobiography.
- In Sterne's work, emotional reactions are prompted by everyday episodes, emphasizing universal human sentiments.
- Sterne's "Tristam Shandy" is known for its unconventional narrative style, lacking a traditional plot and time structure.
- The novel's innovative approach foreshadows the modernist techniques of writers like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf.
Influence of Sentimentalism in the Novel
The novel was also influenced by the 18th-century vogue of sentimentalism. Many novelists chose sentimental stories as their themes and a type of writing that caused intense emotional reaction.The masterpiece in this tradiction is "A sentimental Journey" by Sterne,which is half diary and half a sentimentalized autobiography.During his journey the protagonist,Yorick,is moved not by the great sights of antiquity,but by touching episodes such a us a French peasant crying for his dead ass.Everywhere,for Sterne,the sentiment are the same and also the people.Today ,Sterne in especially known for his masterpiece "Tristam Shandy".It is a long novel,unusual novel,with practically no plot or no time scheme for make funny the readers.It is narrateted to Tristam Shandy himself, who describes his family's everyday life and eccentricities though an endless sequence of digressions,asides,long quotations, flashbacks. He show us that not only big accident but also small things change our life.For its absence of conventional plot and time scheme ,Tristam Shandy looks ahead to the modernist novels of James Joyce and Virginia Woolf in the early 20th-century.
Domande da interrogazione
- How did sentimentalism influence 18th-century novels?
- What is the significance of Laurence Sterne's "Tristram Shandy" in literary history?
- What distinguishes "A Sentimental Journey" from other travel narratives of its time?
Sentimentalism in the 18th century led novelists to focus on themes that evoked intense emotional reactions. This style is exemplified by Laurence Sterne's "A Sentimental Journey," where the protagonist is moved by touching episodes rather than grand historical sights.
"Tristram Shandy" is significant for its unconventional structure, lacking a traditional plot or time scheme. Its narrative style, filled with digressions and asides, anticipates the modernist novels of the early 20th century by authors like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf.
Unlike typical travel narratives focused on historical landmarks, "A Sentimental Journey" by Sterne emphasizes emotional experiences and personal encounters, such as a French peasant mourning his dead donkey, highlighting the universal nature of sentiment.
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