Introduction
A famous American literary short story, Rip Van Winkle, takes place in the final days of the American Revolutionary War. It is a tale about an elderly man seeking sanctuary in a forest from his wife’s reprimands. The man enjoys a few experiences before falling asleep beneath a tree and waking up to find his familiar surroundings gone. Even though the story seems to be a mere narrative, Irving Washington implemented the features that allow for establishing American mythology.
Short Story Analysis
Primarily, the events happen at a distant or even non-existent past. The main character falls asleep and wakes up years later as an elderly man, and discovers that everything has changed. Such a method helps the reader trace how not many things alter as the time goes by. Even though the surroundings might have become different, people are still the same which is a little ironic.
Moreover, strange characters appear on Rip’s way which makes the story even more curious to read. A strange man joins Rip as he climbs the Catskill Mountains to escape his wife. The man is carrying a barrel of alcohol and is dressed in old Dutch attire (Washington, 1819). He needs Rip’s assistance to carry the barrel a long way through the forest to a gap in the trees. Rip saw some men playing ninepins there. This method is used to divert the reader from the real problems and immerse them into fantasy.
The other characteristic of the story is that it incorporates numerous mysterious events. For instance, when he is in the village with the children who come to him incessantly, he tells them stories about witches and ghosts. In addition, Rip finds out that his wife is dead, all the dogs are barking at him, including his own, his house is old and broken, and his beard has grown a foot long (Washington, 1819). It makes a reader think of things as temporary and that life goes on despite the troubles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Irving Washington’s Rip Van Winkle is a narrative about a man who experience a kind of a time travel. The use of strange characters, different time frames, and supernatural event makes the story unpredictable and ironic despite the severity of the events the American society was facing back then. Hence, these means are utilized to divert a reader from daily issues and invoke some thought about changes in the society.
Reference
Washington, I. (1819). Rip Van Winkle. Elegant Ebooks.