Rip Van Winkle

Question:

Answers:

1. 
   linda-allen Teacher
   High School - 10th Grade

   Visit the eNotes study guide link below. There you will find a discussion of two themes of the story: the American Revolution and marital conflict.

   Another theme is change. When Rip van Winkle awakens from his nap, the entire world has changed. Everything he was used to before is gone--even clothing styles have changed. Although so much is different, there are still some links to the past; his children, now adults, serve to link his old life to the new reality.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/rip-van/themes

   Rate answer:

    

   • Flag as inappropriate

   Posted by linda-allen on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 12:48 PM
   
   

2. 
   pmiranda2857 Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   Another theme that runs through Rip Van Winkle is  lazines. Rip's laziness is eventually punished.  His punishment was to remain asleep for 20 years.  As a result of his 20 year nap, he misses watching his children grow up, his wife dies, and the village changes. He also sleeps through the entire American Revolution.

   However, the story also suggests that laziness has been rewarded.  His wife, who was very critical of his lack of initiative, when he wakes up, is dead, and, therefore, he is freed from her nagging and her constant criticism.  He no longer has to run and hide in the woods to find peace in his life.

   His life, after he wakes up, is better than it was before he fell asleep. 

   Rate answer:

    

   • Flag as inappropriate

   Posted by pmiranda2857 on Friday May 30, 2008 at 5:00 PM
   
   

You can now ask questions directly from Facebook, add the Ask a Teacher App from eNotes!