OLD AND NEW AMERICA IN WASHINGTON IRVING’S SHORT STORIES

Abstract

Washington Irving was a contemporary of the American Revolution. In his works he touches upon Old and New (post-revolutionary) America, comparing the positive and negative sides of these periods. In the paper three short stories are presented: “Rip Van Winkle”, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Dolph Heyliger”. Here the author depicts America’s Past warmly, and sometimes with slight irony. But he uses sharp satire writing about the contemporary America. Thus, the New World, according to Irving, is too active and restless. And the patriarchal Post-Capitalist America is more poetic and attractive.