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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. On page 30, the reader learns that Rip is "obsequious" and his wife is a "termagant." What can accurately be said about their relationship?

2. 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?

3. 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?

4. Who is "Dame" Van Winkle?

5. Who is Peter Stuyvesant?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the relationship between Rip and his wife.

3. 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?

4. How is the setting of the Catskills described?

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

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

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

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

9. Describe the condition of Rip's children.

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

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.

Essay Topic 2

The "termagant" wife is a frequent feature of Irving's work. Write an essay in which you consider from both a historical and literary perspective what the purpose of such a character might be. That is, how would such a character have been received in Irving's time? What literary precedent is there for a character of this nature? How does the inclusion of this type of character affect the plot and communicate theme? 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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