a sentimental narrative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sentimental narrative" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a story or account that evokes strong emotions, often related to feelings of nostalgia or affection. Example: "The film is a sentimental narrative that explores the deep bond between a mother and her child, leaving the audience in tears."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

She said, 'It's no good forgiving your husband if you're going to make him eat it for breakfast every morning.' " Just about every anecdote Barry shared, or invented on the spot, conformed to a fundamentally sentimental narrative that retained at least a quotient of plausibility, allowing him to harvest a bit of sympathy for two lifetimes' accumulation of grievances.

The New Yorker

A less successful comment is a work that brings the viewer into Hitler's bunker in the last moments of the war, imagines Eva Braun's sex act with Hitler, and presents a fanciful and sentimental narrative of her mental life.

The New York Times

Some of the poems, like Ms. Me's first-person narrative about a beaten wife, have the ripping and sentimental narrative verve of an old broadsheet ballad (the same style that is wittily rehashed by Lemon in an account of an unexpected survivor of the Titanic).

The New York Times

What was happening was a gradual, unexpected transformation of high modernism's abstract language into something like its rhetorical opposite: something sentimental, narrative, populist.

The New York Times - Arts

Similar faith in the indispensability of soulful, sentimental narrative had worked for the last two Democratic governors to win the White House — a Bible-quoting Georgia peanut farmer and a Svengali from "a place called Hope" — but Dean was having none of it.

The New Yorker

At the end of two years I realized (quite suddenly, alone one morning in the car) that I had come to find narrative sentimental". Narrative sentimental?

Los Angeles Times

Certainly if you consider the art on show in Untold Stories you will see that it is very far from being a series of sentimental narratives in which urchins and prostitutes cower in corners while romantic damsels wait to be rescued by a hunky St George.

The Guardian - Arts

(Bette Midler surprised and seduced audiences with just such a style as a singer at gay clubs 30-some years ago.) It's a musical approach that finds a common denominator in songs made famous by artists like Public Enemy (quaintly presented as an example of folk music) and the Scissors Sisters and sentimental narratives like "One Tin Soldier and Dan Fogelbergg's "Same Old Lang Syne".

The New York Times

Downstairs in the same building Hirschl & Adler offers a group of paintings of women by the 19th-century French academician William Adolphe Bouguereau, whose art represents everything that early Modernists like van Gogh and Cézanne detested: neo-classical draftsmanship, polished technique, sentimental narratives and genteel eroticism.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Bas, who lives in Miami and was in the 2004 Whitney Biennial, paints formally modest but unabashedly sentimental narratives of adventure, sexual intrigue and mystical experience starring slender, fine-featured adolescent boys.

The New York Times

In her best-selling sea books — "The Sea Around Us," "The Edge of the Sea" and "Under the Sea-Wind" — she used simple and sometimes sentimental narratives about the oceans to articulate sophisticated ideas about the inner workings of largely unseen things.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When crafting "a sentimental narrative", focus on authentic emotions and relatable experiences to resonate with your audience. Avoid clichés and overwrought language to maintain credibility.

Common error

Avoid relying on tired tropes and predictable plotlines when constructing "a sentimental narrative". Aim for originality and fresh perspectives to create a genuinely moving story.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sentimental narrative" functions as a descriptive term, characterizing a story or account that evokes feelings of tenderness, nostalgia, or emotional attachment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sentimental narrative" is a phrase used to describe a story or account designed to evoke tender, nostalgic, or emotionally attached feelings. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable, fitting into a neutral register. While examples are relatively rare, the phrase appears predominantly in news and media contexts. When employing this phrase, it's important to focus on authentic emotions and avoid clichés. For alternatives, consider phrases like "an emotional tale" or "a touching story" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an emotional tale

Focuses more on the emotional impact of the story, rather than the sentimentality.

a touching story

Emphasizes the heartwarming aspect of the story.

a poignant account

Highlights the story's ability to evoke sadness or regret.

a nostalgic recollection

Focuses on memories and longing for the past within the narrative.

a heart-rending narrative

Stresses the story's capacity to cause great sorrow or distress.

a sappy saga

Implies an overabundance of sentimentality, potentially to a negative degree.

a romantic storyline

Specifically refers to a narrative centered on love and affection.

an affecting chronicle

Highlights the narrative's ability to influence emotions.

a tender portrayal

Focuses on the gentle and caring aspects of the narrative.

a melodramatic plot

Suggests an exaggerated emotional presentation within the story.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a sentimental narrative" in my writing?

To effectively employ "a sentimental narrative", focus on creating genuine emotional connections with your audience through relatable characters, vivid descriptions, and authentic experiences.

What are some alternatives to using "a sentimental narrative"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "an emotional tale", "a touching story", or "a poignant account" to describe a story that evokes strong feelings.

Is "a sentimental narrative" always a positive thing in storytelling?

Not necessarily. While sentimentality can create emotional resonance, overuse or insincerity can lead to a story feeling contrived or manipulative. Balance is key.

What distinguishes "a sentimental narrative" from a purely emotional one?

"A sentimental narrative" typically involves a conscious effort to evoke feelings of nostalgia, affection, or tenderness, often associated with memories or idealized situations, while a purely emotional narrative may encompass a broader range of feelings without necessarily focusing on these specific sentiments.