1853: "Sohrab and Rustum" to Tanglewood Tales

Chronology of Western, British and American Literature

Matthew Arnold. British. 1853. Poetry. “Sohrab and Rustum.” Father and son meet in individual combat, unaware of their relationship.

Herman Melville. American. 1853. Story. “Bartleby the Scrivener.” Lawyer hires Bartleby to copy, proofread legal documents. He eventually refuses to make any effort or to leave. “I should prefer not to.”

Elizabeth Gaskell. British. 1853. Story. “Cranford.” Peaceful little English village with mainly ladies who practice elegant economy and quaint social decorum.

Matthew Arnold. British. 1853. Poetry. “The Scholar-Gypsy.” Scholar wanders off from Oxford to learn the gypsy traditions.

Nathaniel Hawthorne. American. 1853. Myths. Tanglewood Tales. Six Greek myths. Themes: revenge, effects of time, strange transformations.