Question

In what way was Washington Irving a Romantic?

He never made a serious point about anything but instead tried to entertain his readers.
He focused mainly on Christianity as a source of spiritual enlightenment.
He thought that romantic love was the only topic worth writing about.
He was critical of materialistic societies and valued the simplicity of people living close to nature.

Answer 1

D. He was critical of materialistic societies and valued the simplicity of people living close to nature is the correct answer. Washington Irving was a Romantic writer who celebrated nature, imagination, and individualism in his works. He believed that modern society was becoming too materialistic and that people were losing touch with their spiritual and creative selves. In his writing, Irving often contrasted the simplicity and innocence of rural life with the corruption and artificiality of urban life. For example, in his famous story "Rip Van Winkle," he portrayed the idyllic beauty of the Catskill Mountains as a place of refuge from the chaos and greed of the city. Overall, Irving's works are characterized by a Romantic fascination with the natural world, a concern for individual freedom and imagination, and a critique of the excesses of modern civilization.