Washington Irving

Title Your Name Subject and Section Professor’s Name Date “Rip Van Winkle”, by Washington Irving, traces some enduring themes, relevant throughout its first publication in 1819. The dominant theme is the passage of time and its ripple effects on individuals and the society. Through the protagonist’s twenty-year sleep, the author also examines the results of avoiding responsibility and the inevitability of change. The story tells that Rip Van Winkle ran away from the inevitable troubles of his worldly life and the constant bullying of his wife by holding himself up in the mountains. His meeting with the astonishing figures as well as their resulting slumber mean his wish to escape from his obligation and th...