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The traditional analysis and deconstruction of rip van winkle
Themes and analysis of rip van winkle
Themes and analysis of rip van winkle
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How would you react if you fell asleep for 20 years then woke up and everything has changed. That is what happened in Rip is the iconic myth told in America, “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving. In Rip Van Winkle, Irving creates an American myth that showcases early American mythology through his well planned out integration of a remote setting, a mysterious event, and a positive perspective. The remote settings play a part in the story as being this far away place with no people or things around. Rip was having problems back home so he went out to the mountains to get away from it all. The landscape has been described as the most beautiful place. The mountains are very colorful and lush. This puts the idea that this land has not been touched
Irving, Washington. “Rip Van Winkle.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Bayn. New York: Norton & Company, 1999.
In “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving he writes about a simple man, Rip Van Winkle, who does just enough to get by in life. He lives in a village by the catskill mountains, and is loved by everyone in the village. He is an easy going man, who spends most of his days at the village inn talking with his neighbors, fishing all day, and wandering the mountains with his dog to refuge from his wife the thorn on his side. On one of his trips to the mountains Rip Van Winkle stumbles upon a group of men who offer him a drink, and that drink changes everything for Van Winkle. He later wakes up, twenty years later, and returns to his village were he notices nothing is the same from when he left. He learns that King George III is no longer in charge,
The protagonist of this yarn is the affable, title character Rip Van Winkle. He is a simple and decent, yet meek man by virtue of his neighborly kindness and unyielding submission to his markedly nagging wife. Both Rip and Dame Van Winkle, convey characteristics that lend to the idea of Washington Irving illustrating “old truths about human nature.” Although he is a man possessing no talent for keeping his own home and farm maintained, or making money, Rip Van Winkle is not lazy. Always friendly and willing to help others, he spends quality time with the village children and is an avid outdoorsman.
The story of Rip Van Winkle is well known throughout American culture. As one of America's most popular short stories, few school children have not heard of Rip Van Winkle's twenty-year slumber or imagined his long, gray beard. In the telling and re-telling of this mysterious tale, the original context of the story itself has, for the most part, been forgotten. Few Americans are aware of how the story originated, and in what context it was first presented to the public. "Rip Van Winkle" first appeared as a part of Washington Irving's The Sketch Book. This was a collection of various short works, ideas, thoughts, and pictures. "Rip van Winkle" was only a part of this collection, but eventually gained a great deal of popularity in its own right. When considering this story, it is important to keep in mind the original context and its relation to other works within The Sketch Book. However, as "Rip Van Winkle" has stood on its own in American culture, there is also a place for examining the story apart from The Sketch Book. When doing this, certain symbolism becomes apparent. Washington Irving uses symbolism in "Rip Van Winkle" to relate Rip's life and experiences to the situation of the American colonies in relation to Great Britain and the War of Independence.
The setting and atmosphere bring true emotion to the reader that allows people to possibly get a glimpse of what that kind of life might be like. Survival is a consistent theme that is shown throughout the novel. The conflicts each character faces brings inspiration to the reader and reminds you that maybe what we are going through right now might not be so bad. Works Cited Donoghue, Emma. A great idea.
"Rip Van Winkle" has been a well-known story told throughout time. There is not a doubt that as a child, many of you heard the words of Washington Irving's famous tale of the man who slept for twenty years. Nor can one forget the "elves" that Rip Van Winkle spent the night with in the amphitheater. Like many stories, Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" has been told so many times throughout American history that it has lost its original purpose. The story is now remembered for its fairy tale like quality and its appeal to the children and the young at heart. However, when given the chance to delve into the depths of what Irving was trying to portray, one may see the symbolism that played a hand in Irving's development of Rip's character throughout the tale.
In John Steinbeck’s “The Leader of the People,” a theme that is portrayed throughout the story is that of the contrast between dream and reality. In the story, Grandfather cannot come to grasp that his dreams of the West and moving across the plains are over and that reality has set in. Another story that contrasts dream and reality is Ambrose Pierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” In this story, Farquhar cannot tell the difference between dream and reality until the very last second, when he is hanged.
This beauty is non-existent to the unknowing eye. However, for someone like Laura, who has been challenged and overcome by the prairie, the beauty is evident all around her: “She liked the enormous sky and the winds, and the land that you couldn’t see to the end of. Everything was so fresh and clean and big and splendid.” (75) What started as a childish excitement for something new and unknown, developed into a deep appreciation for the nothingness and open skies that seemed to go on
In Rip Van Winkle, Irving shows his doubts in the American Identity and the American dream. After the Revolutionary war, America was trying to develop its own course. They were free to govern their own course of development; however, some of them had an air of uncertainties on their own identity in this new country. Irving was born among this generation in the newly created United States of America, and also felt uncertainty about the American identity. Irving might be the writer that is the least positive about being an American. The main reason for this uncertainty is the new born American has no history and tradition while the Europe has a great one accumulated for thousands of years. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, Irving borrows an old European tale to make it take place in America. This tale related to the Dutch colonists haunts the kaatskill mountains. In order to highlight the American identity, Irving praises the “majestic” mountains which Europe lacks. He describes the mountains that “their summits…will glow and light up like a crown of glory” Nevertheless, the use of these ancient explorers into Rip Van Winkle only to show that although American has formed its own identity, no one can cut its connection with Europe. No wonder when America was still under tyranny of the British rule, some people still cannot cut the blood relationship with Europe. Therefore, the American identity is blurred by their relationship with Europe since then.
In the middle of somewhere is home; that’s where everything feels right. The village was the home to many, but it was a key part in Rebecca’s family’s life. To Rebecca, home was everything to her. She loved going home after school to play hopscotch, or jumping rope in front of her house with her friends near the beautiful jacaranda tree. When she heard that bulldozers were coming to tear her house down, she was terrified. She couldn’t sleep at night. It was all she could think about.
Rip Van Winkle was a man who traveled to the mountain to escape his nagging wife. Along his journey he encounters a few travelers and ends up drinking with them. He falls asleep on the mountain and wakes up twenty years later without realizing how much time has passed. When he wakes
For many generations, people around the world have read the short story of Rip Van Winkle, whether it was in school or just have a passion for reading. The story was originally published in a book called “The sketch Book” written by American author Washington Irving. The story itself takes place around a small village near the Hudson River in a time around the American Revolution era where Great Britain still had control of the colonies. Irving uses effective writing to show the reader as much detail as possible to understand where and what is going on especially during the transitioning periods. The theme of this story could be about depression as described by certain topics that the main character experiences.
"The outline for each story, although based on native history, can be found in legend and myth." Robert M. Meyers, a famous critic, said this about Washington Irving's amazing talent in writing short stories in literature. "Rip Van Winkle" is one of Washington's most famous short stories. Washington does a fantastic job in the story using the themes of martial conflict and American Revolution. Throughout the story, both seem very noticeable. "Rip Van Winkle" covers many literary elements, all of which are very noticeable to the reader. He makes them easier to point out so that the reader can have a better understanding of all the themes he covers in the story.
To fully understand the significance of the story one must decide on why they believe Rip Van Winkle went up into the mountains. Was he trying to escape his wife? Was he trying to dodge his responsibilities of life all together? Or was he simply being Rip and out for a carefree hike in the mountains? Many believe that Rip spent most of his life trying to avoid his wife’s nagging; however, Rip really was just out to live his life and be happy. It is likely that it was a combination of all three on why he went to the mountains. He liked being able to do what he wanted and enjoy the peace and quiet from his wife and not have to think about the day-to-day responsibilities of life.
To start with, Irving's story Rip Van Winkle is set at the foot of the fairy mountains, the Catskills. The environment is quite exciting. "…and they are regarded by all the good wives, far and near, as perfect barometers. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their bold outlines on the clear evening sky" (Washington, 2014, paragraph 4). The story is in...