Unlock document.
This document is partially blurred.
Unlock all pages and 1 million more documents.
Get Access
Romantic stories did not always end with a happy ending. In fact, the originals of the
modern romantic stories were about the evil of human nature. The work of early American
writers like Irving and Poe show the influence of European Romanticism. Irving would
stress on nature, the supernatural, and superstitions in his stories. The supernatural, the
emphasis of nature, and exotic locations were used in Poes works.
Washington Irving would use an emphasis on nature, the supernatural, and superstitions in
his stories. His story "The Devil and Tom Walker" pictured nature as mysterious. Tom
walked through a swamp that was so thick that when it was noon it would be still be very
dark. At times, water logs would look like alligators floating in the water. The supernatural
area also played an essential role in the story. The devil, being the supernatural being,
seemed to have the ability to trade riches for a persons soul. Tom, having sold his soul,
wanted to outsmart the devil by recruiting the help of another supernatural power, God, by
carrying a bible. In the end, the devil took his soul and he learned a lesson he cannot
forget. Another of Irvings works The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, demonstrates the power
than superstition can have over people. IchabodCrane was a very careful man who avoided
walking under ladders, crossing black cats, or tipping over the salt shaker. When Ichabod
heard the legend of sleepy hollow, he was so frightened even then simplest of noises like
cattails beating on a log, scared him. The characteristics of Irvings works have been clearly
expressed, thus proving that his works were in fact romantic.
The supernatural, the emphasis of nature, and exotic locations were used in Edgar Allan
Poes works. Poes story "The Fall of the House of Usher" involved the work of the
supernatural. Usher was saddened by the loss of his sister to an illness. Strange things
begin to happen as the narrator arrives: the outside is filled a strange, ghastly glow and the
house seems to come alive. Near the end of the story is when the strangest supernatural
thing occurs. The figure of Ushers sister flows through the hallway, takes Ushers life, and
destroys the house. The same story has an emphasis of nature in relation to Ushers family.
Over the years, the house had become cluttered with plants and fungi. The plants were like
Ushers family who have kept the house for many generations. The plants also
