Episcopal bishop Arthur Cleveland Coxe's work titled "A Romant," while more of a Christian devotional, contains a few passing allusions to Halloween, suggesting that his American readers were familiar enough with Halloween in 1842, the year of the poem's initial private publication, to comprehend its references. Edgar Allan Poe's "Ulalume," although it has fewer overt allusions to Halloween, is more intriguing. In this poem, the narrator reflects on a "night in the lonely-some October" and a lost love. The lyrics hint at Halloween night, with mentions of "ghoul-haunted woodland" and "the most magical night of the year."
Literary Impacts on Halloween The narrator of Poe's "Ulalume" recalls carrying his girlfriend to her vault "On this very …show more content…
While the exact setting of "Ulalume" on Halloween is debated, the recitation of the poem has become synonymous with the spooky holiday. Another work by Poe, "The Black Cat," a tale of murder and madness written in 1843, has become entangled with Halloween. The story features a reference to witches in the form of an alcoholic who entombs a cat in the corpse of his murdered wife. "The Black Cat" has become a classic Halloween tale, particularly among educators seeking Halloween entertainment. Poe, known as the first and best American horror storyteller, was almost destined to have his works associated with Halloween. Anthologies like Ruth E. Kelley's "The Book of Hallowe'en" (1919) and Robert Haven Schauffler's "Hallowe'en" (1935) include "The Black Cat" as a suggested reading for Halloween, further solidifying its association with the holiday and helping to popularize a significant Halloween symbol. Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" (1835) is another tale that has had a significant impact on Halloween literature and remains popular during the holiday. Although not explicitly mentioned, Halloween is heavily implied in the story's opening lines, when Faith begs her husband to "pray tarry with me …show more content…
First published in 1820, the story follows the encounter between schoolteacher Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, likely Ichabod's rival Brom Bones in disguise. The use of a pumpkin as a weapon by the Headless Horseman has contributed to the pumpkin's association with Halloween. Irving's classic may have played a role in elevating the jack-o'-lantern to a prominent symbol of Halloween, alongside black cats and witches. American school textbooks often include "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" as a Halloween selection, highlighting its lasting impact on the holiday's imagery. Another of Irving's tales, "Rip Van Winkle," is also a Halloween favorite. Set on "a fine autumnal day," the story follows Rip, who encounters a group of mysterious little men in the mountains. After drinking from their keg, Rip falls asleep and wakes up twenty years later, highlighting themes of time and change reminiscent of traditional Halloween and Samhain folklore. By the mid-19th century, magazines had become a popular form of entertainment, with over 600 publications in the United States by 1850. Godey's Lady's Book, the first women's magazine, debuted in 1830 under the editorship of Sarah J. Hale. While Hale is more famously known for her efforts to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday, she also contributed to
Literary Impacts on Halloween The narrator of Poe's "Ulalume" recalls carrying his girlfriend to her vault "On this very …show more content…
While the exact setting of "Ulalume" on Halloween is debated, the recitation of the poem has become synonymous with the spooky holiday. Another work by Poe, "The Black Cat," a tale of murder and madness written in 1843, has become entangled with Halloween. The story features a reference to witches in the form of an alcoholic who entombs a cat in the corpse of his murdered wife. "The Black Cat" has become a classic Halloween tale, particularly among educators seeking Halloween entertainment. Poe, known as the first and best American horror storyteller, was almost destined to have his works associated with Halloween. Anthologies like Ruth E. Kelley's "The Book of Hallowe'en" (1919) and Robert Haven Schauffler's "Hallowe'en" (1935) include "The Black Cat" as a suggested reading for Halloween, further solidifying its association with the holiday and helping to popularize a significant Halloween symbol. Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" (1835) is another tale that has had a significant impact on Halloween literature and remains popular during the holiday. Although not explicitly mentioned, Halloween is heavily implied in the story's opening lines, when Faith begs her husband to "pray tarry with me …show more content…
First published in 1820, the story follows the encounter between schoolteacher Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, likely Ichabod's rival Brom Bones in disguise. The use of a pumpkin as a weapon by the Headless Horseman has contributed to the pumpkin's association with Halloween. Irving's classic may have played a role in elevating the jack-o'-lantern to a prominent symbol of Halloween, alongside black cats and witches. American school textbooks often include "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" as a Halloween selection, highlighting its lasting impact on the holiday's imagery. Another of Irving's tales, "Rip Van Winkle," is also a Halloween favorite. Set on "a fine autumnal day," the story follows Rip, who encounters a group of mysterious little men in the mountains. After drinking from their keg, Rip falls asleep and wakes up twenty years later, highlighting themes of time and change reminiscent of traditional Halloween and Samhain folklore. By the mid-19th century, magazines had become a popular form of entertainment, with over 600 publications in the United States by 1850. Godey's Lady's Book, the first women's magazine, debuted in 1830 under the editorship of Sarah J. Hale. While Hale is more famously known for her efforts to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday, she also contributed to