Date of Award

4-1936

Degree Type

Bachelors Essay

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Thomas P. Whelan

Second Advisor

William J. Grace

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to discover the relationship of Oliver Goldsmith to the sentimental movement in progress in the England of his time. The author has endeavored to present a clear picture of the times with reference to the theatres, the type of audiences, and popular tastes. In a general way the writer has gone into the period before Goldsmith, which is known as the period of the Restoration and before that into the age of Puritanism. Under the heading of Restoration Drama is included a discussion of the Comedy of Manners and its chief adherents, Etherege, Wycherly, and Congreve. The author also attempted to show the influence of sentiment on the writers of the period and upon their audiences and the source of this movement. In a later chapter the author has discussed in detail "The Older Tradition in Goldsmith and Sheridan"; the influence of each upon the sentimental drama and their contribution to modern drama. As a conclusion an attempt has been made to trace briefly the success of Oliver Goldsmith with regard to his efforts to crush or completely quell the sentimental movement.

Comments

A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the College of Liberal Arts, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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