How American Short Stories development and transformation

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Introduction: American shorty stories underwent a major transformation and development during the 19th century. The developments made during this period are still evident in in todays’ literary works. The transformation of these short stories is clearly seen in the American stories The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne and in Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle. Generally, the two stories reveal the stylistic elements that were common in the 19th century’s short stories and how they contributed to the success of this genre.
Thesis: Irving and Hawthorne in Rip Van Winkle and The Birthmark respectively, use the stylistic elements of personification, symbolism, imagery, allegory, and irony in telling their stories.
The short stories Rip Van Winkle and The Birthmark have used the stylistic element of personification.
Symbolism is another stylistic element used in Rip Van Winkle and The Birthmark stories.
The other stylistic element is the use of imagery in both cases.
Apart from the mentioned, the short story genre also uses allegory as evidenced in the two stories.
Irony is also a common stylistic element in this genre of stories.
Quotes
“A dismembered branch of the great Appalachian family…swelling up to a noble height, and lording it over the surrounding country.”
“The comparatively recent discovery of electricity and other kindred mysteries of Nature seemed to open paths into the region of miracle,”
“as a symbol of his wife’s liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death.”
“had fancied himself with his servant Aminadab, attempting an operation for the removal of the birthmark,”
“a man of science, an eminent proficient in every branch of natural philosophy,”
“The rocks presented a high impenetrable wall, over which the torrent came tumbling in a sheet of feathery foam, and fell into a broad deep basin.”
American Short Stories
American shorty stories underwent a major transformation and development during the 19th century. The developments made during this period are still evident in in todays’ literary works. The transformation of these short stories is clearly seen in the American stories The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne and in Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle. Generally, the two stories reveal the stylistic elements that were common in the 19th century’s short stories and how they contributed to the success of this genre. Irving and Hawthorne in Rip Van Winkle and The Birthmark respectively, use the stylistic elements of personification, symbolism, imagery, allegory, and irony that stood out as a yardstick to modern literary works.
The short stories Rip Van Winkle and The Birthmark have used the stylistic element of personification. In Rip Van Winkle for example, the author shows this when describing the Catskill Mountains. He gives the mountains a human quality when he describes them as, “a dismembered branch of the great Appalachian family…swelling up to a noble height, and lording it over the surrounding country,” (Irving, 7). By this, the mountains are compared to a person that is rich and tries to pull himself to a position of importance. In fair weather, the same mountains are described as being “clothed in blue and purple, and print their bold outlines on the clear evening sky.” Here, the mountains are given the ability to be clothed and to print just like a person. Personification is also evident in Hawthorne’s The Birthmark whereby nature is given the human quality of opening paths. In the story, it is mentioned, “the comparatively recent discovery of electricity and other kindred mysteries of Nature seemed to open paths into the region of miracle,” (Hawthorne, 5). The author in this case personifies nature as having the ability to create opportunities and give life to the people. The birthmark on Aylmer’s wife Georgiana is also personified. In the story, the birthmark is described as having “a little similarity to the human hand,” (6). Aylmer also dreamt that this hand was trying to reach Georgiana’s heart when he attempted to cut it out in the dream. From this, the birthmark is personified as a living thing that has a somewhat inseparable relationship with Georgiana.
Symbolism is another stylistic element used in Rip Van Winkle and The Birthmark stories. In Irving’s story, the name of the main character Rip is symbolic. In the real world, R.I.P is an acronym that stands for the word Rest In Peace, and this therefore symbolizes the death of the old ways and the possible birth of new ways. The other symbol is the hotel that Rip woke up to after the deep sleep. After waking up, we are told, “he now hurried forth, and hastened to his old resort, the village inn-but it too was gone.” (Irving 19). In place of this old village inn that Rip was used to, was the Union Hotel under the ownership of Jonathan Doolittle. In front of the hotel, he sees a General Washington picture instead of the usual one of King George III. The hotel and the picture in this st...