Question

The rise of the novel in the later 18th and earlier 19th centuries saw an increasing interest in the individual's subjective experience and emotional life. This contributed to the popularity of:

• A. Allegorical tales
• B. Gothic romances and "sensibility" novels
• C. Epic poetry
• D. Satirical dramas

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Gothic romances and "sensibility" novels

Rise of the Novel and its Focus on Subjectivity

• The late 18th and early 19th centuries witnessed a significant shift in literary focus towards the individual's inner world.
• This period, often associated with the rise of Romanticism, emphasized subjective experience, emotions, and personal psychology over external events or societal structures.

Gothic Romances: Exploring the Darker Side of Subjectivity

• Key Characteristics:
  • Often set in isolated, decaying settings (castles, abbeys) that mirrored the characters' internal turmoil.
  • Focused on themes of terror, mystery, suspense, and the supernatural.
  • Explored repressed emotions, psychological anxieties, and the irrational aspects of the human mind.
• Popularity Drivers:
  • Catered to a growing public fascination with the sensational and the macabre.
  • Provided an outlet for exploring anxieties about social change, heritage, and the subconscious.
  • Examples include works by Horace Walpole (The Castle of Otranto), Ann Radcliffe (The Mysteries of Udolpho), and Mary Shelley (Frankenstein).

“Sensibility” Novels: Championing Emotional Depth

• Key Characteristics:
  • Centered on characters who were highly attuned to their own feelings and those of others.
  • Emphasized empathy, virtue, and refined emotional responses.
  • Often explored themes of social injustice through the lens of emotional suffering and moral awakening.
• Popularity Drivers:
  • Reflected Enlightenment ideals of reason tempered by emotional understanding and social reform.
  • Appealed to readers who valued moral instruction and sentimental narratives.
  • Key authors include Samuel Richardson (Pamela, Clarissa), Henry Mackenzie (The Man of Feeling), and Oliver Goldsmith (The Vicar of Wakefield).
• Connection to Subjectivity: Both genres, despite their different tones, allowed for an unprecedented exploration of characters' internal lives, making them highly popular during this era.