Mary Chapman, Glenn Hendler, Mary Chapman, and Glenn Hendler
Subjects
Sentimentalism in literature, Masculinity in literature, American literature--Male authors--History and criticism, Men--United States--Psychology, Sex role in literature, Emotions in literature, and Men in literature
Abstract
The essays in this volume analyze a wide variety of cultural forms to demonstrate the centrality of masculine sentiment in American literary and cultural history from the early republic to the progressive era. Challenging the association of sentimentality exclusively with femininity in studies of American culture, the contributors analyze sentimentalism not just as a literary genre but as a structure of feeling manifested in many areas: temperance testimonials, begging letters, historiography, philanthropic performance, photography, portraiture, and poetry. Essays from a variety of disciplines—American studies, literature, history, art, gender studies—deconstruct the alignment of reason, commerce, and the public sphere with men, and feelings, domesticity, and the private sphere with women.
Presents an essay exploring the cultural importance and nature of sentimental poetry using the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Observation that Dickinson's poetry contests and negates the fictions of immortality; Characteristic features of poetry; Strategy of writing poetry about earth and home.
American literature -- Male authors -- History and criticism., Men -- United States -- Psychology., Sentimentalism in literature., Masculinity in literature., Sex role in literature., Emotions in literature., and Men in literature.
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