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How Is Rip Van Winkle A Kindhearted Man

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The short story “Rip Van Winkle” written by Washington Irving is known for the way it portrays various incidents throughout the American Revolution. Rip vanishes from his arrogant spouse to walk to the Catskill mountains where he ends up in slumber for twenty years. The theme of nature and Rips character tie in with one another and demonstrates the ever changing world. Rip Van Winkle was introduced by the narrator as genial, diligent, and ne’er do well.
A trait Rip Van Winkle possesses is geniality. He was often described as a kindhearted man who was constantly looking out for the people. For example, Irving states, “I have observed he was a simple good natured man; he was moreover a kind neighbour, and an obedient, henpecked husband. Indeed, to the latter circumstance might be owing that meekness of spirit which gained him such universal popularity” (Irving 30-31). Thus, he never denied his help to anyone in the community regardless of how hard the task was. This helps demonstrate that he was a favored man in the village who many people respected. According to Irving, “He assisted at their sports, made their playthings, taught them how to fly kites and shoot marbles, and told them long stories of ghosts, witches, and Indians” (Irving 31). The children in the village also admired him …show more content…

Although, he was never concerned about his own appearance or household, he was always enthusiastic about the people’s labor. For instance, Irving declares, “In a word, Rip was ready to attend anybody’s business but his own; but as to doing family duty, and keeping his farm in order, it was impossible” (Irving 31). Winkle would claim there was never work to do around his farm, therefore, his land was in the worst condition. Instead, he would rather help neighbors by doing hard labor and running errands for the women. Lastly, this emphasizes how he is persistent with other people’s

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“Rip Van Winkle” and the Emergence of an American Mythology. By Danise Bachman Rip van winkle in indeed a classic piece of American mythology. Washington Irving set this story in the past and filled it with exaggerated and sometimes, strange characters. It also features a mysterious and magical occurrence that put the main character to sleep for twenty years!

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Rip Van Winkle is one of Washington Irving’s most famous works. Rip Van Winkle was adored by all in his village. Women, men, and children alike all came to Rip whenever they needed something. Whether it is to play a game with a child or help a fellow villager with something. The villagers would describe him as a “simple good-natured man.”

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Refusing to attend to his own tasks, Rip goes up the mountain and falls into an enchanted slumber. After twenty years, he wakes up and finds out his joints are stiff. The scene is a direct parallel to Franklin's quote. Rip's stiff joints are not a result of diligent labor but result from a long period of inactivity. Irving also drew Franklin's idea on laziness and poverty, which Franklin wrote

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What does Rip Van Winkle teach us about nature? To start with the Kaatskill Mountains which are a part of the Appalachian Mountains. Now the part that Rip was seeing and talking on he referred to them as a dismembered branch of the mountains as if the mountains were a tree of some sort. The mountains were west of the Hudson River. The mountains had to be of great size in his eyes being that he said, “the mountains were lording over the surrounding country.

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Washington Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” is a short story about a man who is content with avoiding work and responsibility. The main character, Rip Van Winkle, is a carefree and lazy man. Rip often escapes from his wife's nagging by wandering in the Catskill mountains. One day he falls asleep in the Catskill mountains and wakes up twenty years into the future, where he has to adjust to a new society and the loss of his wife. In the short story Rip Van Winkle, Irving makes use of character, setting, and conflict to showcase how Rip's foolish decision to neglect his own responsibilities and his realization of the passage of time has a lasting impact on himself and society.

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