In both of Washington Irving's stories, "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," he created a precedent for the beginning of American fiction. He created the pop culture and wrote stories that people enjoyed. His stories drastically changed from the Puritans because witchcraft and ghost stories were poked fun at instead of being feared to be real. Americans wanted to rid themselves of the past and create a new future, but Irving dug up the past and viewed a need for cultured people. He created a fantasy like world that people could enjoy reading for fun, but also learn a bit of American History. His stories are still enjoyable today with its fantasy aspects. His description of Crane and Van Winkle is hysterical. When he describes tucking ducks into a bed of pie, fantastic. Irving definitely had a unique writing that created a breakthrough for literature. It was nice to finally read a piece of writing that was not serious and trying to scare its audience to death about God. It gave the mind a break from predetermination discussions and how to become the perfect human. Props to Irving.