What style, marked by exaggerated emotions and actions, is often found in works from the Restoration period?

The style characterized by exaggerated emotions and actions that is often associated with the Restoration period is melodrama. This genre emerged in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, combining music, heightened emotion, and dramatic themes that resonate with audiences through their sensationalism. Melodramas often feature clear-cut distinctions between good and evil, with larger-than-life characters and plots designed to elicit strong emotional responses from the audience.

During the Restoration period, playwrights sought to entertain and engage their audiences in ways that often involved exaggeration and intense emotional experiences, making melodrama a fitting choice as it catered to the tastes of the time. This contrasts with tragedy, which typically deals with serious themes and a somber tone, farce, which involves humorous situations and absurdity, and avant-garde, which is associated with experimental and innovative forms that challenge traditional norms rather than leaning on heightened emotions. Melodrama specifically focuses on cultivating intense feelings and dramatic scenarios in the audience, aligning it closely with the stylistic preferences of the Restoration period.