International Journal of Human Studies

Abstract

The main reason why the short story, with early examples in American literature in the early nineteenth century, became almost an American genre is that it had an appropriate length to be consumed quickly and can be read in a single sitting, so it was more appealing to the American who led a fast and active lifestyle. Moreover, gothic elements in the genre in this period draw attention, and it is seen that in the early examples of gothic stories in American literature, the setting is the character's house or the city, village, and streets. In this study, early gothic examples of writers who produced works in this period, Washington Irving's and William Austin's stories are examined and the gothic elements in the literature of the period are discussed on the basis of these stories. Experimenting with many literary styles, including his stories with gothic elements, Irving's works are simple in tone and humorous, displaying the author's affinity for mystery, horror, and the supernatural. “Legend of the Sleepy Hollow”, one of the first and most important works of American short story, is known for its gripping fiction, combining gothic elements with irony and mysterious tone, and it also draws attention with its historical effects. Creating a fabric of legendary connections for American spaces that could be seen as initiating certain themes that would later be developed by Poe, Melville, and Hawthorne, Austin's story “Peter Rugg” is in every respect an early example of the development of the American short story and gothic literature. The works examined here offer suggestions in the context of parallels between gothic and early American culture and lifestyle. It can be stated that the gothic stories of the early nineteenth century are important in the history of American literature with their common characteristics and unique textures.