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National Mythology In Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle

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What is National Mythology? A national mythology helps the people of a nation and allow them to see themselves as members of a district and unique. The story of the rip Van Winkle happened years ago before and after the American Revolutionary War. In a small village that is located in the foothill of the Catskill Mountain that is where Rip Van Winkle lived. He is a Dutch villager. Rip was described as a simple easy going man and the people that lived in the village adore him because of his Kindness, generosity, and willingness to help his neighbors, but his wife is not happy with him because he is also a very lazy husband he doesn’t work around the house. Washington Irving’s national mythology "Rip Van Winkle” greatly impacts its reader through …show more content…

The readers feel comfortable laughing at living because his personality is not mean spirited or harsh. In fact, this makes the characters more human and appealing. First quote shows he readers how Rip Van Winkle was like “Rip Van Winkle, however, was one of those happy mortals, of foolish, well-oiled dispositions who take the world easy, eat white bread or brown, whichever can be got with least thought or trouble, and would rather starve on a penny than work for a pound” (Irving 64). This quote explained how Rip Van Winkle is described as a man who is responsible and takes care of his Family. Also this quote shows that he is willing to work for anyone except for his own wife and family. And his unwillingness to change how he is makes his wife and children suffer, and does not show a good example for being a good husband and father. And also how he lets his wife talk to him badly makes him an irresponsible man. In this second quote show’s how Dame Van Winkle treat her husband “Rip’s sole domestic adherent was his dog Wolf, who was as much hen-pecked s his master; for Dame Van Winkle regarded them as companions in idleness, and even looked upon wolf with an evil eye, as the cause of his mater’s going so often astray” (Irving 65). This quote describes Dame Van Winkle was a virago or in other word is a noisy or scolding type of person, who

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In the fictional story written by Washington Irving, "The Devil and Tom Walker," the author illustrates the persuasion used by the devil himself, his attempts to push Walker into becoming a slave trader to fulfill his desire of wealth, this gives us an idea of what the people of the 1720s and the 1730s were like, desperate for an easy escape using money. Irving writes “Tom resolutely refused: he was bad enough in all conscience, but the Devil himself could not tempt him to turn slave-trader.” This embodies that although Tom had some evil in him to achieve what he wanted, he wouldn’t turn to such extremes, and it seems as if people during that time wanted an escape from the poverty they were suffering from the separation of the mother country.

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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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Imagery is defined as the use of “figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas” in a way to “appeal to our physical senses” (LiteraryDevices Editors). Washington Irving is an American author during the early ages of an independent America. Taking place before and after the American Revolution, Irving offers offers a unique perspective on small American towns. Throughout his short story Rip Van Winkle, Irving incorporates the element of imagery to connect the audience to the setting, relate the character to the audience, and enhance the reader's experience. Irving writes as the main character, Rip Van Winkle.

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