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ENG231_78
American literature is the among the youngest of all the works published in the world.
The early authors of this time had to work harder to establish a sense of individuality and distinct
style. By constantly forming unique styles and honing in on creative skill sets inspired by
various authors, writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Washington Irving
created unique pieces that are what is now considered early-American literature. Without their
contributions, literature would not be the same or hold the diversity they helped invent by being
ahead of their time. Despite the immense pressure to stay afloat in a world of politics, these
exceptional authors managed to make a splash that is undeniably one of the most monumental in
Washington Irving, the first of the trio to begin his career in literature, changed the scene
in America with his short stories Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He is
best known for his transcendence in proclaiming a certain independence from British critics in
American literature and creating various styles through his short stories (Duyckinck 69). The
humor that Irving portrayed in his work were peculiar and had varying themes, ranging from
dark and romantic to whimsical and lighthearted. A prime example would derive from a quote
taken from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, All these, however, were mere terrors of the night,
phantoms of the mind that walk in darkness; and though he had seen many spectres in his time,
and been more than once beset by Satan in divers shapes, in his lonely pre-ambulations, yet
daylight put an end to all these evils; and he would have passed a pleasent life of it, in despite of
the devil and all his works, if his path had not been crossed by a being that causes more
perplexity to mortal man than ghosts, goblins, and the whole race of witches put together, and
that was - a woman. (Irving 32). Irving was arguably the first American author to display a
wide range ability to alter his style dramatically, depending on the effect he was hoping for. His
works did not appeal to any one type of person but could be universally enjoyed throughout
society, gave him the title of one of the highest esteemed American writers in history. Irving
even turned his attention to producing historical literature and managed to create a respected
name for himself in the field. Not only did he have a wide spectrum of creativity, he also had an
ability to project constant amusement and benevolent characters, even in his darkest works
(Gale). It is undeniable that Washington Irving cleared the expectations and paved way for
writers to produce original, creative pieces that reflected the progress of America.
Edgar Allan Poe is renowned for his grotesque themes and macabre style that is
captivating and outrageous. He is considered the Father of the Detective Story for his creepy,
mysterious stories that later would capture the attention of people all around the world. Despite
his addiction with drugs and alcohol, Poe managed to create a game changing way of writing that
America had never seen before. He incorporated gothic poetry with drama and strong, romantic
emotion that captivated readers unlike any author had achieved. For example, this dramatic
excerpt from The Tell-Tale Heart, It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain;
but once conceived, it haunted me day and night (Poe). Poe was a misunderstood man who
used his madness to his advantage by developing plots and dark themes that had never before
been achieved in Americas literature history. He inspired a genre that is still going strong and
countless readers have been able to enjoy his groundbreaking style for years after his death.
Finally, Nathaniel Hawthorne, an early American writer whose distinct writing style and
subject matter contributed directly to the modern evolution of American Literature is known for
his creativity. He chose themes that would greatly involve political issues and defy social norms,
such as The Scarlet Letter, which centered around a woman who committed adultery but was
still the heroine of the novel. Hawthorne was especially unique because he was involved with
the Salem witchcraft trials on a personal level. He quickly made a name for himself with his
controversial pieces that challenged the norm society accepted. By writing about adultery, the
Salem trials, and even Puritanism on a satirical level that included a very serious note.
Hawthorne birthed a style of writing that would be admired for years to come and challenge the
societal acceptance of his readers (Perkins 427). For example this quote from The Scarlett
letter highlights his willingness to disregard boundaries, "Let men tremble to win the hand of
woman, unless they win along with it the utmost passion of her heart! Else it may be their
miserable fortune, when some mightier touch than their own may have awakened all her
sensibilities, to be reproached even for the calm content, the marble image of happiness, which
they will have imposed upon her as the warm reality" (Hawthorne). He even wrote several
biographies and was mentor to Herman Melville, who would later attribute his novel Moby
Dick to Hawthornes dark style. The work Nathaniel created was dominated by his need to tell
the real story and incorporate a devils advocate to all sides of the coin. He was extremely
successful and would later go on to achieve great recognition for his contributions to society and
While the authors mentioned are distinct in their own styles and themes, they each
brought work to the table that changed early American literature forever. They marched to the
beat of their own drum and in turn were able to open the minds of many closed minded readers.
Hawthorne, Poe, and Irving were masters at their individual works and would later become
world famous for the unique pieces they wrote. Without their contributions, American literature
could have remained the same for many years. With their hard work and ability to hone their
unmistakable writing traits, each author opened a window to a new genre for the future. It is
undeniable that these three talented writers were unlike any at the time and would create a style
that would be remembered hundreds of years later. The inspiration and dedication presented by
these individuals made way for revolutionary breakthroughs in literature during a time that
produced and admired cookie cutter work. The forms, themes, and styles of Irving, Poe, and
Hawthorne transformed early American literature into a diverse country that could appreciate the
dark, unique, individual author who was responsible for the extraordinary work.
Works Cited
Castronovo, Russ. "Something Else: The Politics of Early American Literature." Early American
Literature. vol. 51. no. 2. (2016) p. 419. Literature Resource Center, Web. 21
Nov. 2016.
edited by Janet Mullane and Robert Thomas Wilson, vol. 19, Gale, 1988. Literature
Resource Center, 23 Nov. 2016. Originally published in The Southern Quarterly Review,
Byington, vol. 95, Gale, 2001. Literature Resource Center, 23 Nov. 2016. Originally
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Modern Library, 1950. Print. 26 Nov.
2016.
Irving, Washington, and Arthur Rackham. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. (1820): 32.
Perkins, George B., et al. "Hawthorne, Nathaniel (1804-1864)." Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia
Poe, Edgar Allan, and Hervey Allen. The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe.