Washington Irving

A long and varied career… 1 st American writer of the 19 th century to achieve an international literary reputation. 1 st American writer able to support himself solely through his writing. One of the “inventors” of the modern short story Deidrich Knickerbocker Generally comedic, but also wrote on historical transformation and personal dislocation.

“Rip Van Winkle” 1 st published in 1819; one of Irving’s two most famous works. Set in rural New York, in the Catskill Mountains Narrated by Deidrich Knickerbocker Good natured man and kind neighbor Descendant or strong men, but he is an “obedient, henpecked husband” (472); however, the town tended to take his side on arguments..

The Woes of Rip… Rip would happily take care of anyone’s business but his own; he had an “aversion to all kinds of profitable labor” (472). His estate was failing so he didn’t see the reason to even try. His children were “ragged and wild” (473); they definitely took after their father. Rip wanted to “take the world easy” (473); his wife was constantly yelling to try to get him to actually get up and do something.

Rip can’t catch a break… When his wife yelled, he simply “shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, cast up his eyes, but said nothing” (473). Rip’s dog Wolf was very courageous…until he walked in the door and hear Dame Van Winkle. Rip’s wife even yelled at other important town members for encouraging Rip’s idleness. Rip’s only escape was to head off into the woods for some hunting.

Strange Circumstances The stranger on the mountain catches Rip by surprise and makes him anxious. Why? What is so unusual about the scene in the amphitheatre on p. 476? Why would Rip drink something from someone he doesn’t know? What is Rip’s first thought when he awakes?

Signs that things are not right… Rusted gun No dog Amphitheatre has disappeared Joints hurt He doesn’t recognize anyone in the town People are dressed differently His beard has grown a foot

More signs… His house is abandoned and decaying The dog that looks like Wolf doesn’t recognize him The village inn is gone A strange flag is flying People in town are talking about General Washington and elections He mentions the King and people lose their minds

Great changes in 20 years Somehow, 20 years have passed since Rip went to sleep. What finally causes the town to believe Rip? The mountains are supposedly haunted by strange beings. What does Rip end up doing now and how is it different from the past? The tale is eventually taken as true as far as the town is concerned.

A last note… Knickerbocker adds an ending note that the story he relates is true and he has himself talked to Rip Van Winkle. What is the note supposed to do to the validity of the story?