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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. What is Diedrich Knickerbocker's profession?

2. 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?

3. Who is the frame narrator of "Rip Van Winkle"?

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

5. How might Rip's house be described?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. Describe the condition of Rip's children.

6. Describe the relationship between Rip and his wife.

7. 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?

8. How is the setting of the Catskills described?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What message is "Rip Van Winkle" sending about idleness versus productivity? Is it always clear, or are their ambiguities? Consider details, plot events, diction, and tone as you take a stand on this issue and defend your claims with textual evidence.

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