The Study Of Washington Irving's Short Story

Washington Irving is the first American writer writing in graceful style in English literary world. As one of the greatest American writers in the world he is famous for his novels, essays, history legends and biographies.As a matter of fact, the voices to Irving vary. However, Irving's special position in that era is worth our studying. We may say, Alan Pole gives us a clue that Irving is assessed so highly that we must distinguish his worth from his casual honor. In other words, we must distinguish carefully his honor as a writer from that as a precursor. Then how do the short stories that give Irving prestige and honor ensure the precursor's position in literary world? This thesis will deal with this problem by illustrating three aspects: the background and the theme of Irving'short stories; the writing style of Irving's short stories; and the artistic characteristics of Irving's short stories.A. The background and the theme of Irving's short stories.The background of Irving's short stories is usually set in deserted villages and some haunted places which are quiet and mysterious like a series of old paintings with lingering charm.The theme around the villages or small towns is unanimous to the background in Irving's short stories. These themes usually originated in European culture and literature especially the folklore and apparition stories. His main works except for a few with themes about American nature and Netherlandish emigration are directly related to Europe. Irving's stories lead us to travel around Germany, France , Spain and some famous palaces in history and tell us many stories and folklores about some old castles, from which we can feel Irving's admiration and yearning for the antient civilization of both England and Europe.If Irving's theme is only confined to Europe, undoubtedly, his compatriot will abnegate him and he will never get the grand honor in America. In fact, he portrays not only his era's scenery but also the history of folk-custom. Because of the lack of the materials in his native country, Irving was compelled to hunt in Europe and other abundant sources for both German and Hispanic tales and short stories as materials for his own writing..Therefore, seen from this angle, Irving's short stories transplanted European folk-tales, and had carved out American field of literature, which had laid solid foundation for the later American national literature in the writing idea, the expression of theme and the choice of subject.B. The writing style of Irving's short stories.The themes of Irving's short stories come from European culture especially folk-tales, and his favorite's theme is essay and short story. As a result, the two styles are often cross. On the other hand, because of the folk-tales and mysterious factors, Gothic style is shown in Irving's short stories.The combination of Prosaic style and Gothic style fuse the aesthetic and narrative character. From this point, Irving's short stories lay emphasis on harmony instead of depth So the fictive technique of reality and imagination , the artic technique of irony and suspense , and the narrative rhythm are surely parts of Irving's writing characteristics.C. The artistic characteristics of Irving's short stories.Irving is expert at stories-telling. In his novels he seldom discusses but shows the living situation and the characters'personality by developing the plots step by step. When he adds the humorous tone in his stories, the stories are so great. There are a great many fantasies in his short stories which are not his terminal aim but the manners in which he enriches his plots. The artistic style of irony and humor in Irving's short stories fuses together, which makes up the disparity between the prosaic style and the Gothic style. Irving's humorous character concentrates on the kind irony. His language he employs in his works are usually fluent and sometimes are humorous while a great style comes from the cross of the two styles.In molding characters, there is often romance but not heroism. On the contrary, the writer shows the irony from the character's portray and even the criticism is realized by kind irony. The character are portrayed through color , clothes , personality and peculiar behavior. Furthermore, Irving is good at portraying characters ,describing objects and the details taking place in life with the artic technique of irony and humorous exaggeration which enables the readers to feel the lingering grace in his words.Consequently, as an American writer who observes the first world report, Irving's contribution to the American literature's development is great. He is the first humorous writer in America who had influenced the writing style of Mark Twine directly; his attitude and reference to Europe had also influenced directly the later American literature master Henry James; Alan's writing characteristic had absorbed directly Irving's employment of Gothic style. In other words, no Irving ,no great honor of American literature ,and no the novels'grand creation and development.