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Home/Literature/Why is Samuel Johnson’s Rambler No. 4 [on Fiction] an enlightening example of an eighteenth-century text? Consider the following passage in your answer: “The works of fiction with which the present generation seems more particularly delighted are such as exhibit life in its true state, diversified only by accidents that daily happen in the world, and influenced by passions and qualities which are really to be found in conversing with mankind.”

Why is Samuel Johnson’s Rambler No. 4 [on Fiction] an enlightening example of an eighteenth-century text? Consider the following passage in your answer: “The works of fiction with which the present generation seems more particularly delighted are such as exhibit life in its true state, diversified only by accidents that daily happen in the world, and influenced by passions and qualities which are really to be found in conversing with mankind.”

The literary processes in the eighteenth century reflected the overall shift in the perception, creation, and interpretation of art, its manifestations, and purpose. Samuel Johnson’s critical works were illustrative in terms of the particularities of a text in the Age of Enlightenment. Overall, the novelty of ideas was influenced by previous scientific advancements and the emergence of rationality in art and other spheres of life. In light of these changes and the tendency of art to reflect real-life as believed by the representatives of the Enlightenment period, Samuel Johnson’s Rambler No. 4 is an example of enlightening text.

The characteristics of Rambler No. 4 that indicate its particular resemblance to the ideas of Enlightenment are numerous and relate to the essential principles of the age. Indeed, since the Enlightenment was concerned “with experiment and philosophy expressed itself in an expository style that favored representations of the real,” one of the principles is a realistic depiction of the manifestations of life in literature. Thus, as it is seen in Samuel Johnson’s passage from Rambler No. 4, the author articulated the new purpose of fiction, which was to exhibit life in its true state. Moreover, rationality that is of significant importance to Enlightenment is stated by Johnson to be an immediate attribute of fiction since all the statements must be verifiable by mankind’s experiences.

Conclusively, the statement made by Samuel Johnson on fiction in Rambler No. 4 characterizes the age of Enlightenment since it reflects the new purpose of literature. Given the importance of science and accuracy in the eighteenth century, Johnson’s enlightening ideas resemble the tendencies of the time by shifting fiction toward the realistic and rational reflection of real-life experiences. New generations perceive the world through fiction alongside other influences, which is why it plays an important role as a source characterized by verisimilitude.

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Academic.Tips. (2023) 'Why is Samuel Johnson’s Rambler No. 4 [on Fiction] an enlightening example of an eighteenth-century text? Consider the following passage in your answer: “The works of fiction with which the present generation seems more particularly delighted are such as exhibit life in its true state, diversified only by accidents that daily happen in the world, and influenced by passions and qualities which are really to be found in conversing with mankind."'. 2 January.

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Academic.Tips. (2023, January 2). Why is Samuel Johnson’s Rambler No. 4 [on Fiction] an enlightening example of an eighteenth-century text? Consider the following passage in your answer: “The works of fiction with which the present generation seems more particularly delighted are such as exhibit life in its true state, diversified only by accidents that daily happen in the world, and influenced by passions and qualities which are really to be found in conversing with mankind.". https://academic.tips/question/why-is-samuel-johnsons-rambler-no-4-on-fiction-an-enlightening-example-of-an-eighteenth-century-text-consider-the-following-passage-in-your-answer-the-works-of-fiction-with-whic/

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Academic.Tips. 2023. "Why is Samuel Johnson’s Rambler No. 4 [on Fiction] an enlightening example of an eighteenth-century text? Consider the following passage in your answer: “The works of fiction with which the present generation seems more particularly delighted are such as exhibit life in its true state, diversified only by accidents that daily happen in the world, and influenced by passions and qualities which are really to be found in conversing with mankind."." January 2, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/why-is-samuel-johnsons-rambler-no-4-on-fiction-an-enlightening-example-of-an-eighteenth-century-text-consider-the-following-passage-in-your-answer-the-works-of-fiction-with-whic/.

1. Academic.Tips. "Why is Samuel Johnson’s Rambler No. 4 [on Fiction] an enlightening example of an eighteenth-century text? Consider the following passage in your answer: “The works of fiction with which the present generation seems more particularly delighted are such as exhibit life in its true state, diversified only by accidents that daily happen in the world, and influenced by passions and qualities which are really to be found in conversing with mankind."." January 2, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/why-is-samuel-johnsons-rambler-no-4-on-fiction-an-enlightening-example-of-an-eighteenth-century-text-consider-the-following-passage-in-your-answer-the-works-of-fiction-with-whic/.


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Academic.Tips. "Why is Samuel Johnson’s Rambler No. 4 [on Fiction] an enlightening example of an eighteenth-century text? Consider the following passage in your answer: “The works of fiction with which the present generation seems more particularly delighted are such as exhibit life in its true state, diversified only by accidents that daily happen in the world, and influenced by passions and qualities which are really to be found in conversing with mankind."." January 2, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/why-is-samuel-johnsons-rambler-no-4-on-fiction-an-enlightening-example-of-an-eighteenth-century-text-consider-the-following-passage-in-your-answer-the-works-of-fiction-with-whic/.

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"Why is Samuel Johnson’s Rambler No. 4 [on Fiction] an enlightening example of an eighteenth-century text? Consider the following passage in your answer: “The works of fiction with which the present generation seems more particularly delighted are such as exhibit life in its true state, diversified only by accidents that daily happen in the world, and influenced by passions and qualities which are really to be found in conversing with mankind."." Academic.Tips, 2 Jan. 2023, academic.tips/question/why-is-samuel-johnsons-rambler-no-4-on-fiction-an-enlightening-example-of-an-eighteenth-century-text-consider-the-following-passage-in-your-answer-the-works-of-fiction-with-whic/.

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