Washington Irving earned his reputation as a major author by creating the short story. Later authors learned from and fashioned their short stories after his works. Irving was not boastful about his works. Instead, he had this to say, "If the tales I have furnished should prove to be bad, they will at least be found short".
Irving′s early works set an example for humorous writing, which later became an important part of American literature. In addition, Irving helped establish the short story as a popular literature for the United States.
He also had a way of combining folklore with romanticism in his literary works. His contributions helped to create America′s romantic literary movement.
Under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker Washington Irving wrote A History of New York (1809), perhaps America′s first great book of comic literature. Dietrich Knickerbocker was supposed to be an eccentric Dutch-American scholar. The name Knickerbocker was later used to identify the first American school of writers, the "Knickerbocker Group", of which Irving was a leading figure.1
The book became part of New York folklore, and eventually the word "Knickerbocker" was also used to describe any New Yorker who could trace one′s family to the original Dutch settlers.
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1 http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap3/irving.html
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Preface
- Introduction
- The Life of Washington Irving
- The Alhambra
- Irving's Motivation to Write the Tales
- Conclusion
- Literature
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work explores the life and writings of Washington Irving, focusing on his most famous book, "The Alhambra," a collection of tales about the Moorish castle in Granada, Spain. The primary objective is to delve into Irving's motivations for writing these tales and to examine the broader context of his life and career that influenced their creation.
- Washington Irving's life and career
- Irving's literary style and contributions
- The influence of travel and place on Irving's writing
- The significance of "The Alhambra" within Irving's oeuvre
- The historical and cultural context of Irving's tales
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Preface: This section introduces Washington Irving as a pioneering American writer and highlights his contributions to developing a native literature. It also briefly mentions his travels and the focus on "The Alhambra" in this particular study.
- Introduction: This chapter discusses Irving's impact on the development of the short story genre in American literature and his ability to blend folklore with romanticism in his writings. It also introduces his pseudonym, "Diedrich Knickerbocker," and his role in the "Knickerbocker Group" of American writers.
- The Life of Washington Irving: This chapter delves into Irving's life, outlining his early years, education, and travels. It highlights his early contributions to literature, his journey abroad, and his eventual return to America, where he continued to write and became a celebrated figure. It also includes details about his time in Spain, which inspired "The Alhambra."
- The Alhambra: This chapter focuses on the Alhambra itself, describing its architectural splendor and historical significance. It provides a description of the castle's location, structure, and history, setting the stage for Irving's tales.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work explores key topics such as Washington Irving, American literature, the short story, romanticism, folklore, travel writing, "The Alhambra," Granada, Spain, and the Moorish culture. It focuses on Irving's literary style, his motivations for writing, and the impact of his experiences on his work.
- Quote paper
- Katja Hartmann (Author), 2001, Washington Irving: The Alhambra His inspiration to write the tales, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/6359
