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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. 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?
(a) The wives of country farmers.
(b) The wives of political officials.
(c) The wives of local indigenous leaders.
(d) The wives of prominent Dutch colonists.

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

3. Who is "Dame" Van Winkle?
(a) Rip's daughter.
(b) Rip's sister.
(c) Rip's mother.
(d) Rip's wife.

4. What is Diedrich Knickerbocker's profession?
(a) Historian.
(b) Governor.
(c) Writer of novels.
(d) Farmer.

5. Who is Derrick Van Brummel?
(a) The mayor.
(b) The owner of a local hotel.
(c) The schoolmaster.
(d) The owner of the village inn.

Short Answer Questions

1. On page 30, the reader is told that Rip has an "insuperable aversion to all kinds of profitable labour." What does this mean is true about him?

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

3. What is Rip's dog's name?

4. How might Rip's house be described?

5. Which nation controls New York at the time when Rip and the village are introduced to the reader?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the relationship between Rip and his wife.

2. How is the setting of the Catskills described?

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

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

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

6. Describe the condition of Rip's children.

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

8. 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?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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