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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which nation controls New York at the time when Rip and the village are introduced to the reader?
(a) Great Britain.
(b) Sweden.
(c) The United States.
(d) Holland.

2. In the epigraph from Cartwright's play, to whom does the speaker swear that he will be honest?
(a) The Saxon god, Woden.
(b) The Norse god, Odin.
(c) The Celtic god, Alator.
(d) The Christian God.

3. On page 29, the narrator says that a person might have "descried" the smoke from the village. What does this mean a person might have done?
(a) Seen it.
(b) Explained its details.
(c) Been puzzled by it.
(d) Complained about it.

4. On page 29, the mountains are said to be "lording it over the surrounding country." This is an example of which literary technique?
(a) Onomatopoeia.
(b) Personification.
(c) Synechdoche.
(d) Hyperbole.

5. What kind of relationship does Rip have with the village children?
(a) The children are frightened of Rip because he is always yelling at his son and daughter.
(b) He is a favorite of theirs because he steals apples from a nearby orchard for them.
(c) The children are frightened of Rip because of his habit of talking to himself.
(d) He is a favorite of theirs because he plays with them and tells stories.

Short Answer Questions

1. On page 29, the setting sun causes something to light up and glow "like a crown of glory." This is an example of what literary technique?

2. Where does Rip spend time with his friends?

3. Who is Derrick Van Brummel?

4. In the frame narrative, the reader is told that the main story's narrator gets his information from the wives of the "burghers" (28). Whose wives are these?

5. When on page 31, the narrator refers to Rip's wife's nagging as a "torrent of household eloquence," what tone is created?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the setting of the Catskills described?

2. Describe the contents of the story's epigraph and tell how this relates to the frame narrative.

3. What do Rip and his friends do when they gather together outside the village inn, and how does this characterize Rip?

4. Describe how Rip's relationship with the dog contrasts with his wife's relationship with the dog.

5. Describe the condition of Rip's children.

6. Explain what the frame narrative says about the historian who recorded Rip's story--where does his work come from, and how reliable is it?

7. Explain the relationship of Washington Irving, Diedrich Knickerbocker, and Geoffrey Crayon.

8. What relationship does Rip have with the village children, and how does it characterize him?

9. Describe the condition of Rip's home and farm.

10. Describe the relationship between Rip and his wife.

(see the answer keys)

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