Rewriting the Medieval Framed Tale for America: Longfellow’s Tales of a Wayside Inn

Longfellow with his academic and literary training, his travels to Europe and long stay in Europe studying languages and literatures, was well rooted in European literatures and traditions. His Tales of a Wayside Inn is highly inspired by the medieval framed tale, especially Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and Boccaccio’s Decameron. Similar to these medieval framed tales Longfellow brings together a group of narrators, who meet at a specific location and tell tales in keeping with their characters although there is no journey motif. The tales are preceded by a prelude which serves as an introduction, similar to the medieval European ones; there are comments and interactions between the narrators. With his European heritage, Longfellow seems to be creating a literary heritage for America, with strong ties to Europe and European literary traditions. He barrows all his tales from Europe, except for the last one which is his original creation, his narrators are from America with real American citizens. Similarly the setting is still an identifiable specific American setting.