Washington Irving Questions and Answers
Washington Irving
How has Washington Irving influenced American Romanticism?
Washington Irving influenced American Romanticism by helping establish a distinctly American mythology, depicting the world as we wish it to be. He celebrated the democratic experiment and contrasted...
Washington Irving
Why does Irving use Diedrich Knickerbocker's authorship and who is his real audience?
Washington Irving uses the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker to encourage readers to discern the truth in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" themselves, as Knickerbocker is an unreliable narrator. This...
Washington Irving
What is the plot of Washington Irving's "The Stout Gentleman"?
In "The Stout Gentleman," the narrator is confined to an inn on a rainy day and hears a servant mention a "stout gentleman" in Room 13. Being very bored, the narrator begins to wonder who the...
Washington Irving
What is the theme or message Irving conveys in “The Adelantado of the Seven Cities”?
In "The Adelantado of the Seven Cities," Washington Irving explores themes of adventure, the passage of time, and the consequences of choices. The story suggests that the world is filled with...
Washington Irving
What stylistic techniques does Washington Irving use in "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?
Washington Irving uses a lot of imagery and poetic devices in his fiction. Both stories are loaded with metaphor, imagery, similes, hyperboles, etc.
Washington Irving
Compare and contrast "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Devil and Tom Walker".
"Rip Van Winkle" and "The Devil and Tom Walker" both feature folktale elements, stock characters, and vivid settings, with omniscient narration enhancing their storytelling style. Both stories use...
Washington Irving
Compare the images of manliness in Ichabod Crane and Rip Van Winkle.
Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane are both anti-heroes who lack masculine virtues and heroic qualities.
Washington Irving
In "Sleepy Hollow", how do structural aspects change our interpretation of the story?
In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," framing the story as a fairy-tale prepares the reader to accept a fantastical trickster tale. Further, the narrative device of a first-person speaker who is strongly...
Washington Irving
What makes America unique in the context of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle"?
In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," America's uniqueness lies in its depiction as a nation in transition, blending colonial roots with post-Revolutionary republicanism. "Sleepy...