This document provides a summary of the short story "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving. It describes the plot where Rip Van Winkle, a henpecked husband, wanders into the Catskill mountains and encounters strange characters. After drinking a strange brew, he falls asleep for 20 years. When he wakes, he returns to his village to find everything changed and no one recognizes him. The story was published in 1819 as part of Irving's collection "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon."

1. ENGLISH AMERICAN
LITERATURE
PREPARED BY:
MANILYN A. CABAYAO

2. Rip Van Winkle
• Is a short story by American
author Washington Irving
published in 1819, as well as the
name of the story's fictional
protagonist. Written while Irving
was living in Birmingham,
England, it was part of a
collection entitled The Sketch
Book of Geoffrey Crayon

3. AUTHOR’S SHORT
BIOGRAPHY
• Washington Irving
• American author, essayist, biographer, historian, and
diplomat of the early 19th century.
• He is best known for his short stories "The Legend
of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of
which appear in his book The Sketch Book of
Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
• Irving served as the U.S. ambassador to Spain from
1842 to 1846.
•

4. CHARACTERS
 Rip Van Winkle – a henpecked husband '.
 Dame Van Winkle – Rip Van Winkle's wife.
 Rip Van Winkle Jr.– Rip Van Winkle's son.
 Judith Gardenier – Rip Van Winkle's daughter.
 Wolf – Rip's faithful dog

7. • In this classic American tale, a
hen-pecked Rip Van Winkle
wanders off with his dog Wolf into
the Catskill mountains for some
peace and quiet
• He discover a group of strange
characters playing nine-pins and
drinking a even stranger brew.
•

8. • Despite warnings not to imbibe
the drink, Rip sneaks a taste and
falls into a deep sleep.
• Upon waking Rip discovers Wolf
has wandered off and thinks
someone has played a prank on
him when he finds a rusted out
weapon at his side instead of his
own rifle.

9. • Wandering back into the village
Rip Van Winkle is shocked to
realize he no longer recognizes
anyone and that things seem
unfamiliar.
•
• Suspicions are arosed that Rip
may be a Tory spy loyal to the
crown since his knowledge of
current affairs and politics is sadly
lacking.

10. • . He manages to establish his
identity after being recognized by
his daughter and Peter
Vanderdonk, the most ancient
inhabitant of the village.
• Still incredulous of Rip's
explanation for his twenty-year
absence. Rip enters the village he
notices a number of differences.
He lived with his daughter.

11. THE END