Looking in depth into the history of American Literature can be a very interesting thing. Digging deeper into the writings and tying them in with personal values and ties can make these early writings very meaningful. The people of this time started to read not only for the fact of just to read, but they started to read for entertainment. Ralph Waldo Emerson's The American Scholar, Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle, and Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken, are all stories/poems that take an in-depth look at portraying the "American character". In this paper I'm going to take an in-depth look at these three stories/poems and see how they depict the "American character". So put on your reading glasses and come along for a ride on the American culture adventure.
             Washington Irving set a good tone by building the American character in his writing of Rip Van Winkle. Irving used vast analogies to build upon what we would view as the "American character". In his writing, Irving stated, "I have observed that he was a simple good natured man; he was moreover a kind neighbour, and an obedient, henpecked husband" (Anthology 450). Talking about Van Winkle in this statement, Irving's true meaning of this is that Van Winkle fights for survival in his everyday life. He builds his own character by being kind to the people around him and works hard as being a good husband. Another statement by Irving that shows Van Winkle's impact in the community is, "Certain it is, that he was a great favourite among all the good wives of the village, who, as usual with the amiable sex, took his part in all family squabning gossippings, to lay all the blame on Dame Van Winkle" (Anthology 450). Irving is portraying Dame Van Winkle's character as impacting the village. Just as a true American character would do, Van Winkle leaves a lasting impact on his village. Every g...