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Washington Irving Research Paper

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Washington Irving Research Paper
Washington Irving became the first American Author to be successful both in the American and the European markets and had been considered the father of American literature. The writing style of Irving was primarily based on fantasies and folklore about the American Identity. Washington Irving works cuts across and also revolves around the intellectual traditions of the American society (Barron, 2000). Through his works Irving practically deployed an investigation of the American identity and the legends through the folklore. Washington Irving had a great fascination with historical materials and family skeptics that run from the start to the end starting with his comedy full of satire 'A History of New York' produced in 1809 by the final piece …show more content…
In the 'Legend of Sleepy Hollow' Washington Irving introduces the fantasy of classical American horror full of ghostly torments by a horseman who had been beheaded during the Revolutionary War (Barron, 2000). In this manner, Irving concentrates on the transformation of the American culture, identity and society from the past and taking the cultural changes the country's heritage. Similarly, the short story about the 'The Spectre Bridegroom' is written based on the German folklore. It also introduced mysteries in a family through the use of ghosts. In this folklore, Irving used the tool of romanticism as the point of attraction and the continued creation of fantasy in his folklore works (Giles, 2001). Through the new short story in the Sketchbook, 'Rip Van Winkle' the author concentrates on the reconciliation after the Revolutionary War and the attempts of the Britain control of the country. Rip Van Winkle slumbers in the woods for over twenty years which symbolizes the 20 years of rejection of the American Society for the capitalistic values (Barron, 2000). The author concentrated on the imaginations of the American Society on the productivity versus the consumerism cultures that were developing in the American society. Finally, the author concentrated on writing the biography of George Washington in which he extended the history of the American

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