1. Washington Irving
Washington Irving: The Self-educated Author.
The year was 1804 and Washington Irving was on his way to Europe. He embarked on this journey because of his parents" concern for his health, and to complete his education. His trip was short but well accomplished, learning many things, which helped benefit his writing future. He traveled back to the states and realized that his trip was well worth the time and effort. Irving made one of the most life changing decisions in his life by traveling back to Europe, he decided not only this but also to start an import/export business. Successful, he was not. The business went bankrupt shortly after. Irving then decided to improve his writing knowledge and ability by traveling abroad Europe. In the process of trying to gain great knowledge on many of things he received horrifying news, shortly before his 24th birthday, that his mother died. Irving thought and grieved upon this and decided that it would be best if he stayed in Europe. This greatly impacted his knowledge of writing and what he was going to write about. The death of Washington Irving's mother made him convinced he needed to stay in Europe, greatly influencing one of his most famous writings, Rip Van Winkle. (Hill 482-483).
Irving lived among a family who was of much literary prestige. He gained only a fragment of necessary education, receiving what little he had in male seminaries. However, he completed his education on his own well before the age of sixteen. He was sent by his parents to explore in the wilderness at an early age. .
He explored the countryside of Old Dutch New York and The Catskills Mountain. He studied law privately, but did so only briefly. (Unger 297).
His family owned a small business, which he helped run with his two brothers. In 1804 Washington's health started to become bad. His parents made one of the most influential decisions that they would ever make; this was to send their son to Europe.
One writer that especially stands out from any other is Washington Irving. ... Washington Irving was born in New York City on April 3, 1783. ... This style of writing is very unique to Washington Irving. ... This is a perfect example of Washington Irving's love for travel and nature. ... (Irving, "Rip Van Winkle") This quote represents Washington Irving's love of nature and awe in beauty. ...
Washington Irving was America's first man of letters to be known internationally. ... Thackeray described Irving as "a gentleman, who, though himself born in no very high sphere, was most finished, polished, witty; socially the equal of the most refined Europeans." ... Irving's background provides little to explain his literary achievements. ... Irving's background provides little to explain his literary achievements. ... Set in 1799, "Sleepy Hollow" is based on Washington Irving's classic tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. ...
Washington Irving was born in New York City on 1783 and went to become the first story teller of America, and was best known for his two famous stories, Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. ... Washington goes much deeper using American politics, folklore and cultural surrounding from the time to influence his acclaim short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.... Irving maintains a suspicion of the imagination and an ironic distance from the ghostly. ... In the period in which Irving based his story, few rural people were educated enough to teach. ... Irving wrote the character...
As the clouds lay on the pavement, and the sun sets on the horizon while the birds start opening their wings to embrace the new day, it is easy to picture Washington Irving sitting at the side of the road with his pen on hand ready to write down what is happening around him. ... For starters, one of the main Neoclassical characteristic used by Washington Irving is the intellectual view of men. ... Not only in "Roscoe" is Irving interested in the politics and society of the time; also, in "John Bull," Irving shows an interest in politics and the social environment. ... Accordingly, Irving'...
Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Washington Irving have similar views on death and the afterlife that they express in their short stories which is in agreement with some of the fundamental ideas of Puritanism. ... In "The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving, it was expressed, at least until Tom repents later in the story, that Tom's focus was on this world and not on the one to follow. ... The technique of Hawthorne, Irving and Poe were all they same with regard to expressing a certain idea about Puritanism. ... Similarly, Irving gives another example of exactly what, ac...
The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon Gent. was written by Washington Irving in 1819 and published in 1820. The Sketchbook was written largely in England, at first as Irving was inheriting the family law business from his infirm brother. ... The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon Gent. established Irving as one of the first literary artists of the United States. ... Stories such as the delightful Christmas cycle; the numerous sketches contrast Irving's love and ridicule of the English with their ancient customs (which Irving commends), and their increasing acceptance to m...
Washington Irving "Rip Van Winkle" The short-story "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving can be looked at from many aspects. ... In the short story "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving, it seems as though "Rip Van Winkle" has slept through the American Revolution. Its as though Washington Irving has established an identity before and after the American Revolution. In Washington Irving short story "Rip Van Winkle" was seen as "a kind neighbor, and obedient henpecking husband"(page#450). ... Washington Irving gives insight on how a passage of time can...
Ichabod Crane's Identity The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is Washington Irving's classic tale of life in New York after the American Revolution" (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 1). ... What intention did Irving have for this character, Ichabod? ... Apparently, Crane and Irving had a brief encounter while Irving was serving as a United States colonel in the same war (Anderson 2). ... The townspeople get better treatment from Washington Irving than Ichabod does. ... Washington Irving's character Ichabod Crane is a great compliment to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. ...