Rip Van Winkle | Fallen from Time: The Mythic Rip Van Winkle
In the following essay excerpt, Young looks to mythological influences on ‘‘Rip Van Winkle’’ and the impact that they could have on interpretations of the story.
I
Nearly a century and a half have elapsed, and the name of Rip Van Winkle, one of the oldest in our fiction, is as alive as ever. The subject of innumerable representations—among them some of the country’s finest paintings—America’s archetypal sleeper is almost equally well known abroad. Nor is his fame simply popular, or commercial. The most complex of poets, as well as the least sophisticated of children, are attracted to him.
But there is something ironic here, for at its center Rip’s story is every bit as enigmatic as it is renowned, and the usual understanding of...
[The entire page is 8117 words long]
Join eNotes
The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:
Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...
Navigate
See Also:
- - Rip Van Winkle summary and study guide in the eNotes.
Tell a friend about Rip Van Winkle at eNotes.
- Add Rip Van Winkle to your favorites