美国文学的发展史是一部不断否定、不断创新的历史。然而其幽默传统却以蓬勃的生命力贯穿始终。“美国文学之父”华盛顿·欧文的著名短篇小说《瑞普·凡·温克尔》富于想象力、诙谐幽默开创了美国幽默传统的先河。这篇小说运用夸张的手法、惟妙惟肖的比喻把作者的幽默感推向极致,并对后世美国文学的幽默传统产生了深远影响。 The history of the development of American literature is a history of constant negation and constant innovation. However, its humorous tradition runs through its vitality. “Father of American Literature ” Washington Irving’s famous short story “Rip Van Winkle” imaginative, humorous pioneering the American humor tradition. The novel uses exaggerated techniques, vivid metaphor to the author’s sense of humor to the extreme, and the later American literature humorous tradition had a profound impact.