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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is "Dame" Van Winkle?

2. Where is the village that Rip lives in?

3. In the epigraph from Cartwright's play, to whom does the speaker swear that he will be honest?

4. 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?

5. 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?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

3. How is the setting of the Catskills described?

4. Describe the relationship between Rip and his wife.

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

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

7. Describe the condition of Rip's children.

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay in which you analyze the use of stories attributed to indigenous cultures in the "Postscript." Be sure to use textual evidence to defend your claims, and if you use outside sources, be sure to cite them in MLA format.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay in which you analyze the use of Dutch identity in this story. What do you notice about the connection of the Dutch settlers to Europe, and how are their culture and colonial history being put to use? Be sure to offer textual evidence for your claims and cite all sources in MLA format.

Essay Topic 3

Write an analysis of the diction in "Rip Van Winkle." Offer a claim about its character and purpose: consider its elevation, is concreteness, and its connotative aspects. Be sure to offer quoted textual support for your claims.

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This section contains 874 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample