7.3 Early American Short Fiction

Early American short fiction emerged as a distinct literary form in the 19th century. Writers like Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe pioneered this genre, blending European influences with American settings and themes.

These authors explored folklore, frontier life, psychological complexity, and the macabre. Their works, such as "Rip Van Winkle," "The Last of the Mohicans," and "The Fall of the House of Usher," laid the foundation for the short story's development in American literature.

Washington Irving and His Works

Washington Irving's Contributions to American Literature

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• Washington Irving considered the first American writer to achieve international fame
• Wrote under pseudonyms including Diedrich Knickerbocker and Geoffrey Crayon
• Known for incorporating elements of folklore, legend, and myth into his stories
• Helped establish the short story as a legitimate literary form in America

The Sketch Book and Its Impact

• The Sketch Book published in 1819-1820, a collection of essays and short stories
• Included stories that became enduring classics of American literature (Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)
• Demonstrated Irving's ability to blend elements of European folklore with American settings and themes
• Showcased Irving's humorous and satirical writing style

Rip Van Winkle: A Tale of Escape and Transformation

• Rip Van Winkle falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains and wakes up 20 years later
• Story explores themes of change, nostalgia, and the transformative power of nature
• Rip's character represents resistance to change and the desire to escape societal pressures
• Incorporates elements of German folklore (Kyffhäuser legend) into an American setting

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Blending Folklore and Romance

• Set in the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town, New York in the late 18th century
• Tells the story of Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolmaster, and his encounter with the Headless Horseman
• Blends elements of romance, horror, and humor in a uniquely American setting
• Draws on local folklore and the supernatural to create a memorable tale of mystery and imagination

James Fenimore Cooper

James Fenimore Cooper's Place in American Literature

• James Fenimore Cooper one of the most popular and influential American writers of the early 19th century
• Known for his historical novels, particularly those featuring the character Natty Bumppo
• Helped establish the frontier novel as a distinctly American literary genre
• Works often explore themes of nature, individualism, and the clash between civilization and the wilderness

The Leatherstocking Tales: A Seminal Work of Frontier Fiction

• The Leatherstocking Tales a series of five novels published between 1823 and 1841
• Follows the adventures of Natty Bumppo, a frontiersman known by various names (Hawkeye, Deerslayer)
• Set in the mid-18th century during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution
• Depicts the complex relationships between Native Americans and European settlers
• Novels in the series include The Pioneers, The Last of the Mohicans, The Prairie, The Pathfinder, and The Deerslayer
• Establishes Natty Bumppo as an archetypal American hero, embodying rugged individualism and wilderness skills

Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe

Nathaniel Hawthorne's Dark Romanticism

• Nathaniel Hawthorne a key figure in the Dark Romantic movement of American literature
• Works often explore themes of sin, guilt, and the inherent darkness of the human soul
• Known for his use of allegory and symbolism to convey moral and psychological truths
• Famous works include The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables

Twice-Told Tales: Hawthorne's Short Story Collection

• Twice-Told Tales a collection of short stories published in 1837
• Includes stories that showcase Hawthorne's interest in history, morality, and the supernatural
• Notable stories include The Minister's Black Veil, The Birthmark, and Young Goodman Brown
• Demonstrates Hawthorne's mastery of the short story form and his ability to create atmospheric, psychologically complex tales

Edgar Allan Poe: Master of the Macabre

• Edgar Allan Poe a central figure in the development of the short story genre
• Known for his tales of mystery, horror, and psychological suspense
• Pioneered the detective fiction genre with stories like The Murders in the Rue Morgue
• Works often explore themes of death, madness, and the grotesque

The Fall of the House of Usher: A Gothic Masterpiece

• Published in 1839, The Fall of the House of Usher is one of Poe's most famous short stories
• Tells the story of the mentally unstable Roderick Usher and the mysterious fate of his family and ancestral home
• Employs Gothic elements (crumbling mansion, eerie atmosphere, supernatural occurrences) to create a sense of dread and horror
• Explores themes of isolation, madness, and the blurring of boundaries between life and death

The Tell-Tale Heart: A Study in Guilt and Madness

• Published in 1843, The Tell-Tale Heart is a chilling tale of murder and psychological torment
• Narrator, driven mad by his elderly roommate's "vulture eye," kills the old man and hides his body beneath the floorboards
• Explores themes of guilt, madness, and the psychological consequences of committing a heinous act
• Showcases Poe's mastery of the unreliable narrator and his ability to create a sense of mounting tension and suspense

Development of the Short Story Genre

The Short Story as a Distinct Literary Form

• Short story emerged as a distinct literary genre in the early 19th century
• Characterized by its brevity, concise narrative structure, and focus on a single incident or character
• Allows for experimentation with form, style, and subject matter
• Particularly well-suited to exploring psychological states, moral dilemmas, and the human condition

Factors Contributing to the Rise of the Short Story

• Increasing literacy rates and the growth of a reading public in the 19th century
• Proliferation of magazines and periodicals, which provided a platform for short fiction
• Influence of European writers (E.T.A. Hoffmann, Nikolai Gogol) on American authors
• Desire for a distinctly American literary voice and subject matter

Short Story Innovations in the Works of Irving, Hawthorne, and Poe

• Washington Irving's use of folklore, legend, and humor in stories like Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
• Nathaniel Hawthorne's exploration of moral ambiguity and psychological complexity in Twice-Told Tales
• Edgar Allan Poe's development of the detective story and his mastery of suspense and the macabre
• All three authors helped establish the short story as a legitimate and respected literary form in America

Legacy and Influence of Early American Short Fiction

• Works of Irving, Hawthorne, and Poe laid the foundation for the continued development of the short story genre
• Influenced later American writers (Mark Twain, Henry James, Stephen Crane) and international authors (Jorge Luis Borges, Ryūnosuke Akutagawa)
• Helped establish uniquely American themes and settings in literature
• Contributed to the growing recognition of American literature on the world stage