Washington Irving Essay - 665 Words

Washington Irving Diedrich Knickerbocker; Geoffrey Crayon; Henry A. Buchanan; Jonathan Oldstyle. All were famous writers of the nineteenth century. All had one important thing in common-they are all one man-Washington Irving. Using these pen names, among many, Irving developed a legacy of utilizing European culture to cultivate American aspects of literature. Fred Lewis Pattee asserted, American short story began in 1819 wit Washington Irving. (Gale Group 4) Irving is best known for his fictional works. These pieces include the popular The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle, and The Devil and Tom Walker. Each of these works left a mark on American fictional literature. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, from The†¦show more content†¦A comment made by Irving himself expressed his feelings towards his characters: I am always at a loss to know how much to believe of my own stories. (From Tales of a Traveler, 1824) (Oldstyle 1) This comment is used to show the significance of Irvings fictional works to American literature. He used styles such as manipulation and imagery to captivate the reader. Imagery such as in Chapter 1 of Rip Van Winkle is enchanting and grabs the reader: When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their bold outlines on the clear evening sky; but, sometimes, when the rest of the landscape is cloudless, they will gather a hood of gray vapors about their summits, which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will glow and light up like a crown of glory. (Knickerbocker 2) This sentence, alone, shows his technique in which gives to reader a picture of what is taking place in the piece. This style is typical now and is among many that has been brought or shared through Washington Irvings fictional works, as well as his European experiences have brought life to his non-fictional pieces. During the seventeen years he spent in Europe (following his mothers death-Sarah Sanders Irving) from 1815 to 1832, Irving not only served many diplomatic purposes, but many (of course) literal as well. Irving was fascinated by Spain. During his stay there, he wrote Columbus (1828), Conquest ofShow MoreRelatedA Brief Look at Washington Irving1441 Words   |  6 PagesWashington Irving Washington Irving was considered to be the first professional man of letters and was influential in the development of short stories. He was the first author to sell his stories abroad other than America. Washington Irving was born and raised in New York City on April 3, 1783, and he was the youngest of eleven children. Washington Irving was the first American to make a living as an author during his career in the early 1800’s. His short stories left a lasting and of most influentialRead MoreWashington Irving and Romanticism Essays1611 Words   |  7 PagesThe short stories of Washington Irving are examples of the literary movement of Romanticism and its characteristics which are evidenced in this author’s works. These characteristics are sometimes found in abundant quantities or limited amounts in each of his short stories. However, no matter what short story Washington Irving wrote, the Age of Romanticism and its defining characteristics are found in each of his selections. So, too, do each of the author’s short stories present a unique study aboutRead MoreWashington Irving, American Story Teller Essay2312 Words   |  10 PagesWashington Irving, American Story Teller I strongly agree with the statement â€Å"Washington Irving found in legend and folklore a view of the natural world colored by emotion, by superstition, and by the ancient belief that supernatural beings inhabit the wild places of the earth. 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The setting inRead MoreRip Van Winkle, By Washington Irving1187 Words   |  5 Pagesshort story â€Å"Rip Van Winkle† in 1819, Washington Irving presented the people with a tale filled to the brim with subtle ways of criticizing a nation born again. Now considered to be one of our country’s first and greatest folktales, â€Å"Rip Van Winkle† is also so much more. Indeed, the entirety of this narrative can be seen as a commentary and reflection on the establishment of an identity by the American people before and after the Revolutionary War. Washington Irving’s story focuses on a generallyRead MoreWashington Irving, American Story Teller Essay1176 Words   |  5 PagesWashington Irving, American Story Teller I strongly agree the statement â€Å"Washington Irving found in legend and folklore a view of the natural world colored by emotion, by superstition, and by the ancient belief that supernatural beings inhabit the wild places of the earth. He wrote stories that illustrated old truths about human nature and the dramatic possibilities of the American landscape.† Although Irving wrote over twenty volumes, including essays, poems, histories, biographies, and moreRead MoreThe Legend Sleepy Hollow By Washington Irving928 Words   |  4 PagesMax Lippman Mrs.Tortolla 21st of September 2015 B Block Sleepy Hollow In the Legend Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, the reader follows the story of a Man named Ichabod Crane. It all takes place in 18th century New York, where we see Ichabod the lanky, poor, school teacher attempt to court the rich and lovely Katrina Van Tassel. Ichabod comes to Sleepy Hollow, New York, from his home state of Connecticut, to be the schoolmaster of the village. The town of Sleepy Hollow and its inhabitants areRead MoreRip Van Wrinkle, By Washington Irving844 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1819 one of the most influential folk tales in American literature was â€Å"Rip Van Wrinkle† published by Washington Irving. This folk tale intertwines fantasy with reality and captures what it is like waking up in an anomalous yet familiar place. The main themes of Rip Van Wrinkle is Rip’s laziness, Dame’s henpecking, and the difference between Pre-Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary times. This American Mythology follows a slothful man who desires not to be bothe red by his â€Å"shrewish† wife and the