Final answer:
The term sentiment most closely means emotion, which reflects a person's subjective feelings and reactions. Sentiments can vary widely and are an essential consideration in literature for conveying mood and tone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term sentiment most closely means emotion, which is the capacity to feel or perceive subjectively through various states such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. This term encompasses a broad range of feelings and sensations that reflect a person's perspective and reactions to certain situations or experiences in literature or life. Sentiments can often be complex, combining various emotions that reflect the nuanced experiences of individuals.
For example, a story might convey a mood or tone that prompts feelings in the reader. These emotions can be further explored through the language used within the text, where words can be chosen to evoke particular sensations or emotions, such as fear, joy, or disgust. Hence, when discussing literature, it's important to consider how sentiments are expressed and the effect they have on the reader.