Examine the literary movement and specific work in relation to historical and political influences of the movement.

Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook – for historical/political influences)
Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside source)
APA format for in-text citations and list of references
Choose one of the literary movements that you read about this week and at least one work from that movement. Movements, authors, and famous works are discussed in the lesson as well. You do not have to choose authors or works discussed in the lesson, but you may. For your initial post, address one of the following:
Option 1: Examine the literary movement and specific work in relation to historical and political influences of the movement. Include a one paragraph summary of the plot before moving on to the examination of the work in relation to the movement.
Option 2: Examine a specific artwork influenced by a literary work and how the artist captured the subject or story. Discuss how the art piece reflects themes that defined the literary movement. Here are a few examples, but you are not restricted to this list:
Asher B. Durand’s Thanatopsis (influenced by William Cullen Bryant’s “Thanatopsis”)
John William Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shalott (influenced by Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott”)
Sir John Everett Millais’s Ophelia (influenced by Shakespeare’s Ophelia from Hamlet)
Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne or The Rape of Prosperina (influenced by ancient myths)
Ancient Greek vase painting (influenced by various ancient myths)

ANSWER
Option 1: Examine the literary movement and specific work in relation to historical and political influences of the movement.

The literary movement I have chosen to examine is Romanticism, and the specific work within this movement is Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Romanticism, which emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was a response to the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment era’s rationalism. It emphasized emotion, imagination, individualism, and a deep connection with nature.

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a short story set in a Dutch settlement in New York’s Hudson Valley. It tells the tale of Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher with an overactive imagination, who encounters the legendary ghostly figure known as the Headless Horseman. Irving’s work is deeply rooted in the historical and political context of its time.

During the early 19th century, the United States was still a young nation grappling with its identity. The Romantic movement sought to break away from European literary traditions and create a distinctly American literary voice. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” accomplishes this by drawing on American folklore and local legends, such as the spooky tales of the Hudson Valley.

Moreover, the story reflects the Romantic fascination with the supernatural and the unknown. In a period marked by scientific advancements and industrialization, Romantic writers sought to reconnect with the mysterious and the unexplainable. Irving’s portrayal of the Headless Horseman embodies this fascination, as it is a supernatural entity that defies rational explanation.

Additionally, the story’s setting in a pastoral, idyllic village reflects the Romantic idealization of nature and rural life. Irving’s vivid descriptions of the Dutch countryside and the autumn landscape capture the beauty and awe-inspiring qualities of the natural world.

In conclusion, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving exemplifies the Romantic literary movement’s emphasis on imagination, emotion, and a connection with nature. It draws from American folklore and local legends, reflecting the historical and political context of early 19th-century America as the nation sought to establish its own literary identity.