Supernatural elements as a part of literature and art are nowadays very popular. There are different authors like Wolfgang Hohlbein taking up this topic in German literature as well. The short stories "Rip van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" which were published in 1820, experienced their renaissance in cinema over the past few years. In 1999 the American director Tim Burton, known for his interest in fantastic stories, used "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" as a model for his movie simply called Sleepy Hollow.
For this term paper it is necessary to take a look at Washington Irving as a romantic writer to understand his works in a wider context. Irving combined European and American aspects of romanticism. The political situation of the U.S.A. around 1800 is also important, because in his works Irving refers to it again and again. He tried to resolve the American identity crisis through his fiction. Furthermore I would like to examine closely what is supernatural about the stories mentioned and I will compare the supernatural elements of the stories. I would like to find out, if there is any difference in Washington Irving′s use of the supernatural elements and in which way these possible differences influence the plots of the stories. Before that is possible, at first the phenomenon of "The Supernatural" has to be defined and the differences between similar phenomena like "The Fantastic" and "The Miraculous" have to be pointed out carefully. Chapter four serves this purpose. The knowledge about "The Supernatural" can then be transferred on the analysis and the comparison in chapters five and six.
Table of Contents
- INTRODUCTION
- WASHINGTON IRVING AS A ROMATIC WRITER
- WASHINGTON IRVING AND THE AMERICAN SITUATION BETWEEN 1789 AND 1825
- DEFINITION OF "THE SUPERNATURAL" AND ITS ROLE IN ROMANTIC LITERATURE
- THE SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT IN "THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW"
- COMPARISON OF THE SUPERNATURAL ELEMENTS WITH "RIP VAN WINKLE"
- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
- WORKS CITED
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper aims to explore the supernatural elements in Washington Irving's short stories, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip van Winkle." It seeks to understand Irving's use of the supernatural within the context of romanticism, the American situation in the early 19th century, and the influence of these elements on the stories' plots.
- Washington Irving's romanticism and its influences
- The American identity crisis in the early 19th century
- The definition and role of the supernatural in romantic literature
- The use of supernatural elements in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
- The comparison of supernatural elements in both stories
Chapter Summaries
- Chapter 1: Introduction - This chapter introduces the topic of supernatural elements in literature, highlights the popularity of such stories, and explains the significance of Irving's works in this context. It establishes the paper's main goals and outlines the chapter structure.
- Chapter 2: Washington Irving as a romantic writer - This chapter examines Irving's position within the romantic literary movement, highlighting his blending of European and American aspects. It discusses Irving's use of romantic elements like landscapes and his style, emphasizing his unique contribution to American romanticism.
- Chapter 3: Washington Irving and the American situation between 1789 and 1825 - This chapter explores the political and social context of America in the early 19th century, particularly the ongoing identity crisis and the nation's orientation towards Europe. It connects these issues to Irving's works and their portrayal of American life.
- Chapter 4: Definition of "The Supernatural" and its role in romantic literature - This chapter defines the concept of "The Supernatural" and distinguishes it from similar phenomena like "The Fantastic" and "The Miraculous." It discusses the significance of the supernatural in romantic literature and provides a theoretical framework for the analysis of Irving's stories.
- Chapter 5: The Supernatural Element in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" - This chapter focuses on analyzing the specific supernatural elements found in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." It examines how these elements contribute to the story's themes, atmosphere, and narrative development.
Keywords
This preview explores Washington Irving's short stories, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip van Winkle," focusing on the role of supernatural elements within the context of American romanticism and the nation's evolving identity. Key terms include: romanticism, American identity crisis, supernatural, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "Rip van Winkle," and the influence of the supernatural on literary plots.
- Quote paper
- Daniel Nienaber (Author), 2002, Comparison of the supernatural elements in Washington Irving's short stories, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/12213
