Washington Irving:Washington Irving: Passport to American Passport to American RomanticismRomanticism

Cathelene MorrisCathelene MorrisOconee Christian Oconee Christian

AcademyAcademyDecember 6, 2002December 6, 2002

The Beginning of American The Beginning of American RomanticismRomanticism

““In the four corners of the In the four corners of the globe, who reads an American globe, who reads an American book?”book?” Sydney Smith Sydney Smith Edinburgh ReviewEdinburgh Review 1820 1820

Just a few months before Smith’s

question, an American

writer named Washington Irving

began publishing a series of essays and

tales called The Sketch Book.

First True “American” First True “American” WriterWriter

The Sketch Book The Sketch Book made made Washington Washington

Irving the first American Irving the first American writer towriter to

achieve international fame achieve international fame

Sought to EntertainSought to Entertain

Washington Irving was the Washington Irving was the first first

American writer who sought American writer who sought to to

entertain his readers.entertain his readers.

Washington IrvingWashington Irving1783-18591783-1859

born in New York City born in New York City (near present-day Wall (near present-day Wall St.)St.)

youngest of 11 childrenyoungest of 11 children

parents were Scottish-parents were Scottish-English immigrants English immigrants

Biographical InformationBiographical Information

His parents greatly admired General His parents greatly admired General George Washington (hence his name).George Washington (hence his name).His father became a wealthy His father became a wealthy merchant .merchant .He trained as a lawyer but practiced He trained as a lawyer but practiced only briefly.only briefly.

He showed literary promise early in his He showed literary promise early in his life.life.

Home of Washington Irving, Home of Washington Irving, New YorkNew York

Writing Career BeginsWriting Career Begins

1802-3 published a series of newspaper 1802-3 published a series of newspaper articlesarticles1807-8 published the 1807-8 published the Salmagundi Salmagundi paperspapers1809 published 11809 published 1stst major work – major work – A A History of New YorkHistory of New YorkIt was supposedly written by Deidrich It was supposedly written by Deidrich Knickerbocker, an old, eccentric Knickerbocker, an old, eccentric historianhistorian

This work marked Irving’s future This work marked Irving’s future course.course.It was designed solely for It was designed solely for entertainment. entertainment. It taught no serious moral lessonsIt taught no serious moral lessons His fiancée died in 1809His fiancée died in 1809Her death accounts for melancholic Her death accounts for melancholic cast over rest of his life and work.cast over rest of his life and work.

Career Shifts to Europe Career Shifts to Europe in 1815in 1815

He sailed for England to take charge He sailed for England to take charge of family business in Liverpool.of family business in Liverpool.When it bankrupted, he When it bankrupted, he concentrated on literary career.concentrated on literary career.He traveled throughout England, He traveled throughout England, France, Spain, Germany, and France, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland.Switzerland.He wrote a history of Christopher He wrote a history of Christopher Columbus.Columbus.

Literary Career Literary Career ContinuesContinues

1819 - 1820 1819 - 1820 published published The The Sketch-Book Sketch-Book of Geoffrey of Geoffrey Crayon, GentCrayon, Gent It included It included “Rip Van “Rip Van Winkle”Winkle” and and “The Legend “The Legend of Sleepy of Sleepy Hollow.”Hollow.” Old Rip

Irving’s Literary Irving’s Literary PseudonymsPseudonyms

Dietrich Dietrich KnickerbockerKnickerbocker

Jonathan OldstyleJonathan Oldstyle

Geoffrey CrayonGeoffrey Crayon

Irving Widely RecognizedIrving Widely Recognized

By the late 1820s, Irving had By the late 1820s, Irving had gained a gained a

reputation throughout Europe reputation throughout Europe andand

America as a great writer and America as a great writer and thinker thinker

Returns to America in Returns to America in 18321832

He returned from Europe to New He returned from Europe to New York.York.He established his home Sunnyside He established his home Sunnyside in Tarrytown. in Tarrytown. He never married or had children. He never married or had children. For next 25 years, he shared For next 25 years, he shared Sunnyside with his brother Ebenezer Sunnyside with his brother Ebenezer and Ebenezer's 5 daughters. and Ebenezer's 5 daughters.

Sunnyside, Home of Sunnyside, Home of IrvingIrving

Facts About SunnysideFacts About SunnysideLocated on Hudson River in Located on Hudson River in Tarrytown, N.Y.Tarrytown, N.Y.Purchased by Irving in 1835 for Purchased by Irving in 1835 for $1,800$1,800Originally a two-room Dutch farm Originally a two-room Dutch farm house house Over 15 years of renovationOver 15 years of renovation

Artist friend George Harvey helped Artist friend George Harvey helped Irving redesign & add to the original Irving redesign & add to the original house.house.

Close-Up of SunnysideClose-Up of Sunnyside

Irving outfitted his home with the most advanced

technology of the period, such as a

refrigerator (ice box), a cast iron

stove, and indoor

plumbing.

More Facts About More Facts About SunnysideSunnyside

Sunnyside was visited by many Sunnyside was visited by many artists, politicians, writers, and other artists, politicians, writers, and other influential people influential people Irving's home was publicized Irving's home was publicized throughout the world in lithographs, throughout the world in lithographs, magazines, and tourists maps.magazines, and tourists maps.Images of  Sunnyside could even be Images of  Sunnyside could even be found on cigar boxes, sheet music, found on cigar boxes, sheet music, and ceramic pitchers.     and ceramic pitchers.    

IrvingIrving on on the the

PorchPorch at at

SunnysiSunnyside de

Additional Views of Additional Views of SunnysideSunnyside

Washington Irving's Washington Irving's church, Tarrytown, N.Y church, Tarrytown, N.Y

First Genuine American First Genuine American StoriesStories

““Rip Van Winkle”Rip Van Winkle”““The Legend of Sleepy The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”Hollow”Contained distinctive Contained distinctive AmericanAmerican settings and characters settings and charactersIncorporated German Incorporated German folktales and legendsfolktales and legends

““Rip Van Winkle”Rip Van Winkle”

Irving's best-known story Irving's best-known story Based on a German folktale Based on a German folktale Set in the Dutch culture of Pre-Set in the Dutch culture of Pre-

Revolutionary War in New York Revolutionary War in New York StateState

Rip Van Rip Van Winkle Winkle

Rip, the eternal Rip, the eternal boy-manboy-mannever grows up never grows up to accept adult to accept adult responsibilitiesresponsibilitiesis a compelling is a compelling character type character type in American in American fictionfiction

Joe Jefferson as Rip Van Winkle

SettingSetting Rip is a farmer who wanders into the Rip is a farmer who wanders into the

Catskill Mountains near the Hudson River.Catskill Mountains near the Hudson River.

Scenes from Catskill Mountains and Hudson RiverScenes from Catskill Mountains and Hudson River

More Scenes from the More Scenes from the CatskillsCatskills

Irving’s GraveIrving’s Grave

On November 28, 1859, on the eve of the Civil War, Washington Irving died at Sunnyside surrounded by his family.

Old Dutch Church in Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. 

He was buried in

the Sleepy Hollow

Cemetery at the

Old Dutch

Church.

““Genius he had, the nature and Genius he had, the nature and the the faculty of an imaginative writer;faculty of an imaginative writer;what he needed was not power what he needed was not power but opportunity; and at every but opportunity; and at every new chance of life he answered new chance of life he answered to the time and place and to the time and place and succeeded.” succeeded.” ——On Irving On Irving

George E. George E. WoodberryWoodberry

Works CitedWorks Cited All photos in this All photos in this

PowerPoint presentation PowerPoint presentation came from the came from the

American Memory Collection American Memory Collection of the of the

Library of CongressLibrary of Congress

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