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Rip Van Winkle
Original title Rip Van Winkle
Author

Washington Irving

Genre

Diedrich Knickerbocker (character, pen name), Ichabod Crane (character), Headless Horseman (character), Anthony Van Corlaer (character)
Language English
Characters Rip Van Winkle, Dame Van Winkle, Rip's father, Rip's son, Rip's daughter, Rip's dog, Rip's friends, the townspeople
Published 1819
ISBN 978-0-14-039034-9
Book Summary
Essay Examples

Table of Contents

Rip Van Winkle is a short story by Washington Irving that was first published in 1819. The story follows Rip Van Winkle, a man who falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains and wakes up 20 years later. He returns to his village to find that everything has changed, including his wife, who has died.

  • 1Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving and Thanatopsis by William Bryant: The Ideas of Early American Romanticism and Transcendentalism
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    In the two works, "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving and "Thanatopsis" by William Bryant, nature and mankind are two of the principal subjects, like many other works created during the romantic period. In both works, nature and mankind's desire to be in communion with one another due to nature's attracting aesthetics of romanticism; the sublime, beautiful and picturesque. The sublime evokes a sense of awe and wonder and is characterized by sharp edges and dark scenery, while the beautiful…
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  • 2Feminist Literary Criticism Of Rip Van Winkle
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    The fictional memoir of Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle narrates the life of Diedrich Knickerbocker, a man residing in a small village in the Catskill mountains, who finds particular interest in recounting the histories and rich anecdotes from Dutch descendants of New York. Although Knickerbocker is an ancestor of many successful, hard-working men, he does not seem to share the same interest in being an active member of society. Despite the admiration Rip receives from the community, he is constantly…
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  • 3Washington Irving and His Rip Van Winkle
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    "Rip Van Winkle" is a fairytale written by Washington Irving. The story is narrated by Diedrich Knickerbocker who is a comical fictional character in which Irving submitted a lot of his work. Another fictional character created by Irving was named Geoffrey Crayon. The story of "Rip Van Winkle" was published in "The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon" and has become very famous. This is a story of a man named Rip Van Winkle, his wife that found fault with everything he…
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  • 4Rip Van Winkle: The Symbolism of the Story
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    Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving is an anti-feminist text because of the symbolism between the Dame and Britain, and her unimportance as a character.In the story, Rip Van Winkle falls asleep for 20 years and misses the American Revolution. The Revolution is arguably the most important event in our nation's history. The Dame is symbolic of Britain's monarch, and Rip represents the colonists who seek freedom from their control. "He was fain to draw off his forces and to…
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  • 5Rip Van Winkle: a Brief Story of the American Dream
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    In the case of Rip Van Winkle, the narration is a myth within a myth. Irving mentions that he found the story among the writings of a Diedrich Knickerbocker who is indeed a fictional character. Irving wrote the story at a period in which Romantic writers were looking at the past to find myths, fables, and other narratives to attach them to their national identity. The undeniable fact that new nations need their own history, makes the writers create one…
    American Dream
  • 6Summary Of Rip Van Wrinkle
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    Washington Irving’s short story, Rip Van Wrinkle, is about a colonial Dutch villager who resided in America. The book is about a man who lived a challenging life with a nagging wife before he met a great spirit in a mountain when he was from hunting. The main character in Irving's short story, Rip Van Wrinkle, is about a man who was unlucky despite him being a good man. He then fell asleep for twenty years and when he wakes…
  • 7Rip Van Winkle As a Personal Biography Of Washington Irving
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    Washington Irving: Seen Through Rip Van Winkle’s Eyes “Rip Van Winkle” is a fictional American short story, written by Washington Irving under the pseudonym of ‘Diedrich Knickerbocker.’ Perhaps the pseudonym was a product of Irving wanting to maintain his privacy and avoid the societal shame of pursuing an ‘artistic’ career; or, perhaps, the name was an inside joke between Irving and those who knew him. Throughout the short story, we can see Irving’s personality showing through the titular character, Rip.…
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  • 8Freedom and Revolution in Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle
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    Introduction Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" is a timeless piece of American literature that delves into the themes of freedom and revolution. Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution, the story explores the profound changes that freedom and revolution can bring to an individual and society. Through the journey of Rip Van Winkle, Irving presents a narrative that reflects the complexities of societal transformation, personal agency, and the lasting impact of historical events. This essay will examine how Irving's…
  • 9Satire, Imagery, Irony, and Symbolism in Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving
    Words • 1838
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    At its most basic level Rip Van Winkle is a humorous story of a man who sets off into the mountains to find so much needed peace and quiet, then sleeps for twenty years. Washington Irving uses a combination of satire, imagery, and irony, intertwined with symbolism, to paint an allegorical image of the American Revolution. Irving particularly focuses the tale of Rip on America's political struggle during the latter half of the eighteenth century while highlighting the role of…
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  • 10Expanding the Worlds Wife: Two Poems Worth Remembering
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    Therefore, on a larger scale reminding the reader of two poems that serve as a repertoire to the 'World's Wife', as the somewhat condescending title is a clever over turning of 'the world and his wife' implying that women are the property of men. Yet with this exaltation of men, we see that these two poems are not only reminders of the feminist characteristic of 'The World's Wife' but these two women have been given voices by Duffy. Consequently, archetypes…
    WifeWorld
    Paper Type:500 Word Essay Examples
  • 11An Analysis of Developing American Literature
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    An Analysis of Developing American Literature “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving and “The Slaughter of the Pigeons” by James Fennimore Cooper demonstrate several distinct American characteristics. Irving focuses on New York’s Hudson River while discussing the settings of “Rip Van Winkle. New York is probably the most identifiable state in the U. S. and is recognized by its Statue of Liberty welcoming foreigners into its prideful country. While Irving discusses nature’s beauty in similar ways in the U. S.…
    America
    Paper Type:650 Word Essay Examples
  • 12American Romanticism: Self-Conscious Character Development in Writing
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    Professor Ann Woodlief describes American Romanticism by saying, it “developed its own character, especially as these writers tried self-consciously to be new and original. ” In this statement, Woodlief argues that the American romantic authors strove to distinguish some differences between American and British Romanticism. The two forms of writing were already very similar, so the authors of this time period forced themselves to find a creative way of making American Romanticism unique. Like the British, the American romantics were…
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    Paper Type:1500 Word Essay Examples
  • 13The Evolution of American Identity in Rip Van Winkle
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    Freedom and happiness intertwine in the narrative of Rip Van Winkle, a tale that unfolds against the backdrop of a man who slept through the transformative era of the American Revolution. Within the twenty years of Rip's slumber, profound changes swept through his village and the nation at large, setting the stage for the future of America. Penned during the early 1800s, an era when American literature bore the heavy influence of European counterparts, Washington Irving utilized Rip Van Winkle…
    American RevolutionArtArt MovementsRomanticism
    Paper Type:800 Word Essay Examples
  • 14The Attributes of a Good Wife: Lessons from “Rip Van Winkle”
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    Exploring the characteristics of a good wife is a timeless pursuit, and Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" provides valuable insights into the nuances of marital roles. While Dame Van Winkle's methods may seem unconventional, her commitment to the well-being of her family sheds light on the complexities inherent in defining a good wife. This essay will delve into the portrayal of Dame Van Winkle as a strong matriarch, examining her disciplinary actions and the underlying motivations that shape her role…
    Wife
    Paper Type:250 Word Essay Examples
  • 15“Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving
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    "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving is a fiction story of a character whose destiny was impacted by marvellous circumstances. In contrast to Benjamin's Franklin Autobiography and Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self reliance, there are some things that are similar, however overall Rip Van Winkle is entirely various plot; in other words, it's main character is unique. I discovered a number of evidences showing that. First, the book itself is written in an unique design. In the very start of this…
    Virtues
    Paper Type:650 Word Essay Examples
  • 16Rip van Winkle and Young Goodman Brown
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    These two stories by Washington Irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne respectively, illustrate different examples of men wandering away from home, for somewhat different reasons, with somewhat the same results with the exception of the overall outcome upon the men. Careful analysis of the two stories can reveal both the similarities and the differences between the two, and how those things are important to the story as a whole. Young Goodman Brown takes a look at the life of man after venturing…
    Paper Type:750 Word Essay Examples
  • 17Washington Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle”
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    Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" shows distinct characteristics of romanticism throughout. Irving's unusual and original subject and the descriptions of nature, displays these romantic qualities of originality, connection with nature and an emotional sincerity. Rip van winkle is about a man who goes deep into the woods one day to go hunting. Rip some one calling his name and is led to strange men. "What seemed particularly odd to Rip was, that though these folks were evidently amusing themselves, yet they…
    George Washington
    Paper Type:450 Word Essay Examples
  • 18Rip Van Winkle: Escapism, Responsibility, and Societal Transformation
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    Introduction One of the central conflicts in Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" revolves around the titular character's decision to fall asleep for 20 years, seeking refuge from the verbal abuse of his wife. This escape leads to an unexpected adventure, as Rip encounters strange men in the mountains, drinks Dutch gin, falls asleep, and wakes up to a dramatically changed world. The story delves into themes of escapism, the consequences of neglecting responsibilities, and the profound impact of societal change…
    Conflict
    Paper Type:600 Word Essay Examples
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