Journal for Irving

Gregory Alcala
October 27th 2009
English 48A
Lankford
Journal for Irving

Quote:
“Rip Van Winkle, however, was one of those happy mortals, of foolish, well-oiled dispositions, who take the world easy, eat white bread or brown, which ever can be got with least thought or trouble…” -quoted from The Norton Anthology: American Literature Vol. B
Summary:
Irving’s writing really could have been much shorter for today’s reader to understand that Rip Van Winkle was a lazy man. But this style of writing was needed for the reader about 200 year ago. Van Winkle didn’t care what kind of food he got as long as it didn’t take work to get it. I love that sentence. I can see Van Winkle walking the shorter distance to the half eaten loaf of bread then working for a dollar to buy a fresh loaf.

Quote:
“We feel a just pride in his renown as an author, not forgetting that, to his other claims upon our gratitude, he adds also that of having been the first to win for our country an honorable name and position in the History of Letters.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow the addressing the death of Irving, Poems and other Writings, J.D. McClatchy
Summary:
It is always difficult for me to find a quote about the author that is not from a critic. However, Irving had an great impact on the American poet Longfellow who used Irving’s Sketch Book for his school studies in literature. Longfellow remarks that Irving was the first American to win a literacy award for his writing. Longfellow is remember the first American writer that would break ground in America and become popular in Europe.

Overall Summary:
People describe the stories of Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow as some of the first American folk stories or fairy tales. I think too many authors have turned to a very frank way of writing. Writers like Irving use more words to describe the surrounds and characters. Even his non-fiction work on the History of Columbus was used in American classrooms till the 20th century. Irving was a great writer who didn’t start out as a writer. It seems like the best writers of American Literature didn’t start off that way and just feel into it. Irving was slightly different from other greats like Poe and Melville cause Irving was able to support himself with his writings.