The term "sentimentalism" was formed from the word "sentimental", which literally translated from French means: "sensitive". This is how the literary movement began to be called in the 18th century, including "sensitive poetry", "novel in letters", "tearful play".
Instructions
Step 1
Authors, adhering to sentimentalism, sought not only to reveal in detail the inner world of their heroes, but also to touch readers, arouse pity and sympathy in them. Sentimentalism quickly became very popular, including in Russia. The founder of this literary style in Russia was the famous writer, historian and statesman - Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin. He was born in December 1766 into the family of a retired officer. The distant ancestor of the future sentimentalist was the Tatar Kara-Murza, who went into the service of the Russian tsar. His name, slightly modified in the Russian way, became a surname. This is how the noble family of the Karamzins emerged.
Step 2
Fulfilling the will of his father, 16-year-old Nikolai in 1783 entered the service in the most prestigious Guards regiment - Preobrazhensky, but soon became disillusioned with military service and retired. A few years later, Karamzin went abroad. He visited many large cities, in particular, Konigsberg, Paris. The result of this trip, as well as of Karamzin's meetings and conversations with some famous people (including Voltaire), was the book "Letters of a Russian Traveler." Published in 1791-1792, it brought great fame and fame to the very young author, who had barely crossed the twenty-five year mark. And when, in 1792, another story by Karamzin, "Poor Liza", was published, it became finally clear that a mature author with his own style came to Russian literature, striving to reveal the inner world of man as fully as possible.
Step 3
Some researchers believe that it is from these works that modern Russian literature originates, written in an impeccably correct and at the same time lively and figurative language, without pathos, metaphors, or pretentiousness. In Letters of a Russian Traveler, the author seemed to share with the reader his thoughts about himself, about his thoughts, feelings that arise in him at the sight of beautiful monuments, natural objects, from meetings with famous people. He frankly talked not only about his enthusiastic impressions, but also about periods of melancholy, homesickness.
Step 4
Many authors, delighted and inspired by "Letters of a Russian Traveler" Karamzin, began to create similar works. Based on this book, “A Journey to Kazan, Vyatka and Orenburg in 1800” (Nevzorov), “A Journey to Little Russia” (Shpalikov), “A Journey to Midday Russia” (Izmailov) and others were soon written. This is how sentimentalism arose and developed in Russia.
