Final answer:
Tolstoy's positive theory of art highlights the importance of empathy and emotional connection in storytelling as an art form. The discussed passages reflect Romanticism's focus on emotion, the sublime, and individual imagination in expressive narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage describes Tolstoy's positive theory of art, which focuses on the artist's ability to evoke genuine emotional responses in others that mirror their own. This theory suggests that art is a medium through which human experiences and emotions are communicated and shared. The core of this theory lies in the empathetic connection between the story-teller and the audience, creating a communal experience through the power of expressive narrative.
The anecdote about the boy and the wolf serves as an example of how storytelling can be an art form. According to this view, both the teller and the listener are integral to the artistic process; as the boy communicates his fear effectively, he extends it to his audience, demonstrating Tolstoy's emphasis on shared emotions as the fabric of art. This mechanism is apparent in the narrative examples provided, where responses to nature, emotional development, and the portrayal of profound moments in life, are crucial aspects of the artistic exploration of the human condition.
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The Romantic movement, with its focus on emotion over logic, the sublime, and the authentic individual, clearly influences these writings. The elements of the Romantic era, as well as the belief that all individuals have an imaginative power and freedom, are evident in the passages relating to the emotional and authentic storytelling that Tolstoy values so highly.