From Knickerbocker to Hawthorne: Early American Short Stories

AI is Constructing America

This episode explores two early American short stories, Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Roger Malvin’s Burial,” focusing on their narrative techniques, historical contexts, and themes.

• "Rip Van Winkle," published in 1819, is considered one of the first true American short stories, distinct from moral tales and gothic mysteries.
• Irving's humorous tale explores themes of societal change, nostalgia for the past, and the burdens of domestic life, set against the backdrop of the American Revolution.
• The story draws inspiration from German folklore, showcasing Irving's ability to blend European influences with uniquely American settings and characters.
• "Roger Malvin's Burial", published in 1831, is a dark and introspective tale grappling with themes of guilt, sin, and the weight of unfulfilled promises.
• Set in the aftermath of "Lovell's Fight", a historical battle between colonists and Native Americans, Hawthorne’s story explores the psychological impact of violence and survival on the individual conscience.
• The episode will examine how Hawthorne uses the wilderness setting as a symbolic landscape to represent Reuben Bourne’s internal struggle with guilt and redemption.

By comparing these two stories, the episode will highlight the development of the American short story in the early 19th century, showcasing the unique voices and perspectives of Irving and Hawthorne.