Assignment # 1 Victorian Literature

Answer the following questions:

1.- Which 2 readings did you select form the list?

a) Irwin, W. (1820) The Legend of Sleeppy Hollow.

b) Poe, E.A. (1841) The Murders in the Rue Morgue.


2.- Using these readings, compare (3 examples) and contrast (3 examples) the works with the ppt. presentations on Victorian Literature and culture given in class.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

- Irving W. used in this tale the names of some characters and places that he already knew.

- The soldier ghost is a headless horseman whose head had been carried away by a cannon-ball during the revolutionary war.

- The village is a peaceful place and people share the characteristic of good people they were pacifists, hardworker, church goer, protestan etc. the same as in the Victorian Era.

- There were a thought against immigrants. In that period they were in peace with others countries, but inside of it existed a lot of conflicts with the colons.

The Murders in the Rue Morgue.

- Poe was a journalist so he knew how the newspapers worked and how was the emphasis of the headlines of the newspapers of that period.

- Mr. Dupin is a character who has the features of the time he was a literate person who lost part of his fortune.

- The description of the places and people 's job which are described corresponding to the people of that time.

- In the case of the story there weren't losers but the good people who resolve the mysteries.

3.- Do you feel that the readings you completed are very good or excellent examples of Victorian Literature? Why/ Why not?


Literature resembled the culture in the Victorian Era. In my opinion The legend of Sleepy hollow represents a great part of the society in that period but it was just fiction for his readers. In the case of the Murders in the rue morgue it also shows the realism with the characters and their jobs, also the places are shown as they were in those years. Both books are good examples of the era.


4.- Would you recommend these readings to your friends and family? Why / Why not?

I am not a good reader but when I read I love mysteries books. I recommend these two books to all of them who loves mysteries and fictions books and who think that they can resolve the enigmas by themselves. I have a special person to recommend the works of Allan Poe that is my sister, she loves mysteries books.