Washington Irving Research Paper

Washington Irving was a writer of many fiction and nonfiction books. Irving “wrote numerous short stories, biographies, histories, and stories of his travels.” (Irving,Washington) Irving was known as "the Father of American Literature." (Gallagher, Edward J.) Washington had over 15 writing's he had produced. Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of a Sleepy Hollow are his most well known novels. Washington “best known as the first American to make a living solely from writing.” (“United States ) He was one of the best writers for 76 years, he made stories for people to enjoy. In his 18 century novel the Rip Van Winkle Washington Irving explores the theme freedom of tyranny by using symbolism and imagery.

Washington Irving was Born on April 3, 1783,

He wrote numerous short stories, biographies, histories, and stories of his travels. “In his free time, he read avidly and wandered when he could around the misty, rolling Hudson River Valley. This area just north of New York City was steeped in local folklore and legend and served as an inspiration for his later writings.” (“Washington Irving Biography.”) His brother helped him during the beginning of his writing. When he was 19 he wrote letters under the name Jonathan Oldstyle and sent them to his brother Peter to edit. These letters he wrote were for the newspaper. Irving toured Europe from 1804-1806, When he was in Europe he wrote a number of stories and essays. When he returned to New York City he brought drafts of Rip Van Winkle. After returning home Irving worked to gain experience in law. He never went further in law, he knew writing is what he wanted to do. His first book was a collaboration with his brother and his friend. There were a few years that Irving was upset with, the year his fiance died he grieved for a long time. His brothers helped him become famous by joining him in the writing of his first book. Romanticism means to inspire, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual. In a lot of Irving's writings he used romanticism characteristics, not all of them were noticeable unless you read between the lines. Some of the characteristics are youth or child like, innocence, and uneasiness with women. All

At the beginning of the novel it talks about a man named Rip who was nagged by his shrewish wife. He had 2 kids and a dog and all the neighbors loved him, but his wife was made him leave the house. One day Rip went to the mountains to hunt. After he was there for a while he heard an old man calling him, he rushed to help him. Then when he got to man he was carrying a keg. Rip being the good mad he is offers the man some help. The man carries the gun and Rip carries the keg. The stranger took him down to a little village, where they were playing 8 pins(bowling). He saw the people were drinking and tried their beer and he kept drinking and drinking. Then Rip had left and doesn't remember how he got there, when he woke up his bones were all stiff, had a long grey beard, and his gun was all rusty. Rip thought to himself that someone had stole his gun and gave him a old beat up gun. Rip called for his dog multiple times and gets no response. After he had not got a response, he walked back to town. When Rip got back to town he didn't recognize it. His house all beat up the roof falling in, and windows broken. Rip see’s a lady and ask if his wife was still alive. He then asks about the daughter and son. When the lady answers she ironically is his daughter. Rip gives the daughter a hug. The daughter had thought he had ran away because the nagging wife. After RIp talks to his