An Analysis Of Washington Irving's The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow

Father of Sleepy Hollow and American Literature
Alexander Isayevich Solzhenitsyn once said “Literature transmits incontrovertible condensed experience… from generation to generation. In this way literature becomes the living memory of a nation.” Literature was not created “in a vacuum.” Literature was created in an open environment, it expands and reaches places that not everyone believes it will. Literature is made to express thoughts or to reach social issues. Alexander Isayevich Solzhenitsyn’s quote could be interpreted in a couple of ways. Literature in fact, does transmit almost unchanging, although it is changing, experiences from generation to generation. Whatever it is that is being transmitted into the “new generation” is what soon
He spent a year of his youth near the town of Sleepy Hollow. Sleepy Hollow is the setting for a few of his short story but most people know it from his most famous story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” A lot of his writing was influenced by his relationship with his parents. Irving was known as a “dunce.” (Jones) His parents, especially his dad, and teachers had trouble controlling him. Washington Irving was a “different” child. Irving was a bit of trouble at school and tended to ditch school and go watch plays instead(Jones). He liked theater more than sports compared to other boys. Irving loved being a class clown as well, he almost thrived off of it. At a young age Irving had a considerably different belief of religion compared to his family. Washington Irving thought that religion was “tedious.” (Jones) His writings are possibly some of the most influential pieces of American literature ever. His childhood and family life, the town he would spend his summers at, and how he matured as an author are shown in his short stories
Irving is considered the “father of American literature” and many authors that come after him support this statement. (Jones) Washington Irving sparked many other great American writers to begin their careers. (Liptak) Due to Irving’s works American literature has expanded. He has set a standard in a way for future American literature as well as he opened up the field of writing a bit. Washington Irving did not only write fictional short stories but he also wrote biographies and nonfiction works. The fact that he didn’t just stick to a specific type of writing enhanced future writing formats. His childhood, family life, where he spent his summers and his maturity as an author is substantially important to his writing and for future American