Key Features:
* Emphasis on emotion: These novels delve deeply into the internal lives of characters, exploring their feelings, thoughts, and motivations.
* Exploration of love and romance: Love is often a central theme, and the novel might focus on romantic entanglements, courtship, or the complexities of relationships.
* Emphasis on personal growth: Characters often undergo emotional journeys, learning about themselves and the world through their experiences.
* Emotional resonance: These novels aim to evoke strong emotions in the reader, creating empathy and connection with the characters.
* Focus on social issues: Often, social issues like class, gender, or societal expectations are explored through the lens of personal emotions and experiences.
Examples of Novels of Sentiment:
* "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded" by Samuel Richardson: A pioneering novel of sentiment, it tells the story of a young woman's struggle against sexual assault and her eventual reward for her virtue.
* "Clarissa" by Samuel Richardson: Another influential novel in the genre, it explores the tragic consequences of a young woman's forced marriage.
* "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë: This classic novel explores themes of love, loss, and social injustice, focusing on Jane's emotional journey and her quest for self-discovery.
* "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen: A timeless novel of sentiment that satirizes societal expectations and explores the complex dynamics of romantic relationships.
Differences from Romance Novels:
While both genres focus on romance, novels of sentiment often have a broader scope. They delve into more complex emotional landscapes, explore social issues, and aim to evoke a greater sense of intellectual engagement than many romance novels.
Overall, novels of sentiment offer a rich exploration of human emotions and relationships. They provide a window into the lives and hearts of characters, inviting readers to connect with their experiences on a deeply personal level.