Abstract:
American Revolution is the most important event which created the foundations of
The United States of America as we know it today. Under the impositions of the
British Crown, colonists established a new country. The research is based on literary
search of the Enlightenment and its effects, thoughts of the colonists, the harsh acts
that are demanded from them, French and Indian Wars, Proclamation and Boston
Massacre, Congress’, Declaration of the Independence were thoroughly examined
but this paper’s main aim is the American Revolution’s occurrence, and analyzing
it through the context of literature and one of the founding fathers of American short
story Washington Irving and his most important short story on the Revolutionary
America Rip Van Winkle is examined. The primary function of the thesis is
American Revolution that resulted with unison in 13 colonies and through the
literature, different feelings are conveyed as for the Crown. Furthermore, new
national notions can be traced which lead to the beginning of America itself and its
literature style.
In introduction, the general information about American Revolution and its effects
on American literature will be given. The process and causes of American
Revolutionary War will be examined in the second section of this thesis. In the third
section, Washington Irving’s effects on American literature and his views on
American Revolutionary War and his works will be mentioned. Rip Van Winkle is
analyzed in the forth section of this thesis. Moreover, it can be seen a detailed study
about the reflections of American Revolutionary War on Washington Irving’s Rip
Van Winkle.
In conclusion, it is shown how Washington Irving describes American Revolution in
his work “Rip Van Winkle” successfully.
