Title: Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories “Rip Van Winkle” Summary and Analysis | GradeSaver
Headings: Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories Summary and Analysis of "Rip Van Winkle"
Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories
by Washington Irving
Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories Summary and Analysis of "Rip Van Winkle"
Analysis

Content: He just likes to chat and have friends. He also sleeps through what was the defining moment of American history, and upon waking, he does not even care. This develops him as the American anti-hero, for he takes no part in the country’s founding or history. His story makes sense as more of an Old World story, one that the Dutch settlers, in their relatively old village, can retell. The story also shows that great historical events are often less important than the daily happenings in an individual’s life. The only oppressor Rip Van Winkle cares about having overcome is his wife. Dame Van Winkle is certainly the antagonist in this story. She is constantly berating Rip Van Winkle, whom everyone else in the neighborhood adores. She is a completely flat character—we only ever see her worst side, except for the one comment made after she has died that she always kept the house in good order. Her criticism of her husband, if