Rip Van Winkle is in the bizarre position of not knowing the village in which he was born. This is, of course, because he has spent the last twenty years fast asleep while all around him the place he calls home has changed beyond all recognition. So when he wakes from his slumber, Rip is understandably disoriented.

Everything has changed; nothing is how he remembered it. For one thing, there's been a Revolutionary War, which the American colonists won. And this has led to another change, one that Rip doesn't find welcome at all. Whereas once upon a time people were able to engage in mutually respectful disagreements, now they holler and shout at each other as if they live in a state of permanent anger.

Rip's whole world has changed, and somehow he has to adapt to it. But under the circumstances, this is a lot easier said than done. Rip has to establish himself among his fellow villagers, and for someone like himself, this would seem to require considerably more effort than Rip has been used to.

As it turns out, however, Rip doesn't have to do anything. He simply has to let time pass by in idleness and wait for the villagers to accept him, which they eventually do. This greatly facilitates his adaptation to what is almost like a new village for him.