Washington Irving’s story “Rip Van Winkle” uses common literary characteristics to bring to life a new version of a mythology for America. Some of the characteristics he uses are a time setting of the past; a positive message about the people it is written for and about; and magical, mysterious, and incredible events. All of these characteristics help convey a mood and theme that allows the reader to envision how the US changed dramatically over a short period of time.
At the very beginning of the story, the reader is told that the following accounts are of a historic nature. It relays that the information was gathered by a person of the name Diedrich Knickerbocker, a deceased citizen of New York. By giving the reader this little bit of information early on, they already know the story takes place in a recent past. Other information to paint the picture of the past is given in the description of political views of individuals and a society. In the beginning of the story, Rip Van Winkle and his village were proud subjects of the British Empire and supporters of King George III. This immediately tells the reader the events took place prior to 1776, if not a few years sooner. The impact of this information lends to the potential of an exciting journey to a time not known to the …show more content…
This new political view is very unfamiliar to Rip when a person asked, “which side he voted?” When Rip expresses his support for King George, the villagers exclaim, “A tory! a tory! a spy! a refugee! hustle him! away with him!” This extreme response displays the large change in attitude in America. At the time of its publication in 1819, the story of Rip Van Winkle retraces the enthusiasm for democracy to a country that was just over forty years old. This type of remembrance in literature can lead to increased patriotism and
At the very beginning of the story, the reader is told that the following accounts are of a historic nature. It relays that the information was gathered by a person of the name Diedrich Knickerbocker, a deceased citizen of New York. By giving the reader this little bit of information early on, they already know the story takes place in a recent past. Other information to paint the picture of the past is given in the description of political views of individuals and a society. In the beginning of the story, Rip Van Winkle and his village were proud subjects of the British Empire and supporters of King George III. This immediately tells the reader the events took place prior to 1776, if not a few years sooner. The impact of this information lends to the potential of an exciting journey to a time not known to the …show more content…
This new political view is very unfamiliar to Rip when a person asked, “which side he voted?” When Rip expresses his support for King George, the villagers exclaim, “A tory! a tory! a spy! a refugee! hustle him! away with him!” This extreme response displays the large change in attitude in America. At the time of its publication in 1819, the story of Rip Van Winkle retraces the enthusiasm for democracy to a country that was just over forty years old. This type of remembrance in literature can lead to increased patriotism and