1. “Rip Van Winkle”
Washington Irving

2. Interest in the common man and childhood
Rip lives in a small village, keeps a farm, and frequently goes hunting and fishing in the mountains nearby.
Strong senses, emotions, and feelings
Rip’s desire to escape his wife
Rip’s confusion when he wakes up

3. Love of Nature Setting in Catskill Mountains (p. 69)
Rip loves to hunt and fish (p. 70)
Descriptions of beauty of the landscape (p. 69, 72, 74-75)
Sense of loss when Rip notices that the tree that used to be next to the inn is gone (p. 76)

4. Celebration of the Individual
Rip is the original anti-hero
A protagonist who is a non-hero or the antithesis of a traditional hero. While the traditional hero may be dashing, strong, brave, resourceful, or handsome, the antihero may be incompetent, unlucky, clumsy, dumb, ugly, or clownish. (

5. Importance of imagination
Hendrick Hudson and his crew
Rip sleeping for twenty years
At end of story (p. 80) it says the story was based on the German myth about Frederick der Rothbart and the Kypphaüser Mountains
However, the intro to the story (p. 67) says it might be based on the German story of Peter Klaus or the ancient Greek story of Epimenides.

6. Gothic elements
N/A

7. How would you describe Rip Van Winkle. (What does he enjoy
How would you describe Rip Van Winkle? (What does he enjoy? What does he dislike?)
Simple and good natured
Kind neighbor – plays with children, helps anyone who asks
Henpecked husband
Doesn’t like profitable work – will help anyone else but neglects his own farm & family

8. What is the first indication that this story is not wholly realistic?
On p. 72 when the stranger appears in his antique Dutch clothes.

9. What is Irving attempting to compare and contrast in this story
What is Irving attempting to compare and contrast in this story? What is the message of this comparison?
He compares pre- and post-Revolutionary America.
He expresses concern that Americans lack: community, appreciation for nature, and connection to the past.