AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN WASHINGTON IRVING’S RIP VAN WINKLE

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.