W. Irving (1783-1859)

• Irving is called “American’s first man of letters”. What does it mean?
• Where did he get the idea for his famous story “Rip Van Winkle”?
• What legend was used by W.Irving in this story?
• What human qualities did the author want to glorify or to mock at?
• Can you compare this story to a fable? Is it possible?

Selection I from “Rip Van Winkle”
• Did the author describe his appearance or the features of his character? Why?
• How can you characterize the author’s tone in the description? Is it ironic? Justify your answer.
• What adjectives would you use to describe him? (idle, kind, indifferent, talkative, lazy).
• How does he usually react to his wife’s “lectures”?
• Describing his wife and her nagging what expressions did the author use?
• Why was his dog’s name Wolf? Was it done by the author to show his ironic attitude? Analyse the passage describing the dog.
• How did he create ironic atmosphere? On what is this ironic example based on?
• Why did the author use from time to time such formal words as “yelping precipitation”, “matrimony”, “to hold session”, “perpetual club”?
• How did the author describe the bar (the small inn)?
• How did he characterize Nicholas Vedder, a patriarch of the village? What is funny in this description?

Selection II from “Rip Van Winkle”
• What historical events did he sleep through?
• Why was he so surprised when he returned to the village?