Outline for Rip Van Winkle
Overview of the Plot
The short story written by Washington Irving is set at a place called Catskills. It entails a story of one, Rip van Winkle. The plot develops when he runs away from home to flee his nagging wife dame. The plot further revolves around him and how he sleeps for a whole two decades. Waking up and finding all things in a post-revolution era have changed. The storyline further unfolds humorously on the story of Hendrick Hudson which incorporates the story Rip offers on the anachronistic men. In a historical narration, there is a review on the election of the first president of the United States.
Theme/ Meaning of the Short Story
In Irving’s short story, three dominant themes are evident. Firstly, the thematic concern of freedom is well addressed. Secondly, the subject of progress is seen how the characters and the setting move forward. Lastly, there is s a primary concern on the theme of change in how the twenty-year span affects the transition. The importance is that it educates us on the inevitability of change.
The Characters that develop this story include:
- Rip van Winkle as the protagonist
- Dame Van Winkle
- Henry Hudson
- Peter Vanderdonk
- Judith Gardenier, the setting is made around the Catskill Mountains. The team with the rest of the minor characters develop the concern of freedom against tyranny as brought in this story.
Humour, imagery, symbolism and satire are the key literary devices that Washington Irving employs while penning down this amazing historical short story. It is a novel that symbolises past events that later are overturned by modernity.