19th Century Literature

1800-1870

Physical Growth1800: US = 16 states1803: Louisiana Purchase doubles size

Improved transportation: canals, turnpikes, railroads, steamboats, etc.

Democratic GrowthAmericans take more control of

government“Era of the Common Man” – Andrew

JacksonProperty requirements for voting

eliminatedStill restricted to white males

American LiteratureRomanticism

NOT necessarily about love!Imagination > Reason

Intuition > FactNature

Washington Irving1783-1859Romantic writerBegan studying law at 16 but was more

interested in traveling and writingExplored New York’s Hudson Valley,

Europe

Washington Irving’s WritingSatirical essays pen name: Jonathan

OldstyleMagazine: SalmagundiA History of New York from the Beginning

of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty pen name Diedrich KnickerbockerFunny description of colonial NY society

Washington Irving’s Writing1815-1832: lived in Europe, learned

customs, traditions, folklore“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”“Rip Van Winkle”Both take European tales and rewritten

about Americans in the Hudson Valley Ichabod Crane and Rip Van Winkle = classic

figures of American literaturePen name: Geoffrey Crayon

Washington Irving’s WritingTales of a Traveler

“The Devil and Tom Walker” Ill-gotten wealthBased on German folktale of man selling his

soul to the Devil in exchange for earthly possessions

“The Devil and Tom Walker”Omniscient Point of View

narrator stands outside the actiondetails about the thoughts and feelings of ALL

charactersnarrator’s commentary about events in story

Direct vs. Indirect CharacterizationDirect = narrator tells the reader what the

character is likeIndirect = personality traits revealed through

words, thoughts, actions of characters

“The Devil and Tom Walker”Cultural attitudes of New Englanders

Colonists’ belief in DevilReferences to Native Americans as

“savages”