By Washington Irving

THE WIDOW AND HER SON

“…the sorrows of a widow, aged, solitary, destitute, mourning over an only son, the last solace of her years: these are indeed sorrows which make us feel the impotency of consolation”

SETTINGSPLACE:The author talks about the landscape rural area (farm, hill, knoll, meadow) in England describes some places, for instance a Gothic Church and its yard.•England: “…the passive quite of an English landscape on Sunday…”•Rural area: “… and all other sounds of rural labor…”•Church: “…I used frequently to attend at the old village church…”

TIME:

The term Gothic was first used during the later Renaissance. Irving describes Gothic architecture (church) also a day of devotion, very important in Catholic religion. •12th to 16th Century : “… The church was surrounded by yew trees,(...) Its tall Gothic spire shot up lightly from among them, with rocks and crows…” • Sunday: “ Well was it ordained that day of devotion should be a day of rest… I think I am a better man on Sunday than on any other day of the seven…”

PLOTSome new resident, relates story about an old woman who knows in church, then he sees a funeral and the same woman so sorry.Somebody told him that she is a widow who has a son, a good boy that was corrupted by pirates gang, in that way he left his house and his parents. They were so Catholics people.Someday George (the son) came back and knew his father died. His mother sad, took care him and loved him when he came, because he was sick.Finally, he died in his mother`s hands, she was so sorry and mourn, two or three Sundays after her son´s funeral she died too.

CHARACTERSFirst-person narrative is narrated by only one

character at a time, first-person narrator refers to information he had heard from the other characters, in order to try to deliver a larger point of view.

NARRATOR: “…I used…” “…What, thought I … ” “…I could see no more…” “…when I saw…”

THE WIDOW: “…was a poor decrepit old woman, bending under the weight of years and infirmities…”

THE SON: “…he was such a comely lad, so sweet-tempered, so kind to every one around him, so dutiful to his parents…”

COMFORTER WOMAN: “I met with the woman who had acted as comforter… ”“…I drew from her some particulars connected with …” “…said the good woman…”

AUTHOR`S POINT OF VIEW

Washington Irving was an American writer who characterizes by stories of mystery and tragedy. His work was very important in Literature, and his experiences has reflected in his stories for instance, in this story he shows a widow and her sadness ; in that way reflected how he felt when he lost his fiancée and then his mother . When George came back to his mother , he (Washington Irving) also decided came back to his relatives and died.

THE WIDOW AND HER SON

By Washington Irving.

Johanna Baiz Foreign LanguagesIX-13