Characteristics Of American Myths In Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle

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Have you ever thought what it would be like to live in a fantasy world or to a part of your favorite fictional book? Many people think that these fake worlds would be better than reality. There are so many characteristics in these stories that make us find it more appealing. Whether it be the unique characters or magical events. A lot of these characteristics we like about stories appear in American myths. All of the main characteristics of an American myth can be found in Washington Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle.” These characteristics include: being set in the past, having remarkable or strange characters, featuring incredible or magical events, and conveying a positive message about a nation its people.
One major characteristic of “Rip Van Winkle” is the fact that it is set in the past and in a remote or exciting place. Because it is set in the past, the reader gets a better understanding of what’s going from previously learning about historical events in prior history classes. In “Rip Van Winkle” it states “In that same village and in one of these very houses, there lived a many years since, while the country was yet a province of Great Britain, a simple good natured fellow of the name of Rip Van Winkle.” (Irving 62) This reveals that this story is taking place back when Great Britain was still ruling over
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First, American myths are usually set in the past that is typically in a remote or exciting place. Next, many of these myths have remarkable or strange characters that usually have exaggerated features. Then, when reading an America myth you will usually find that they have magical or mysterious events. Lastly, myths usually convey a positive message about a nation or its people. Ultimately, you can find all of these characteristics that used in American myths in “Rip Van

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