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LITR 4231 Early American Literature 2012 Student Midterm Samples 2. Short essay (4-6 paragraphs) on 1 of 2 options (or combinations as inspired) :
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Lauren Weatherly
The Metamorphosis in “Rip Van Winkle”
Probably one of my favorite authors is Washington Irving. He was literally the
first fiction author in the US and paved the way for future generations of
writers that followed. He takes real landscapes and towns in the newly settled
US and adds a twist of supernatural elements to real world events, like the
American Revolution, as he did in his famous short story “Rip Van Winkle.” In an
attempt to bridge the gaps between the folklore of the old world and the current
political events of a blossoming nation, Irving illustrates a poor gentlemen
(Rip) wandering back into his hometown after a couple decade hiatus in the
mountains to find his entire world changed:
[30] He now hurried forth, and hastened to his old resort, the village inn—but
it too was gone. A large rickety wooden building stood in its place, with great
gaping windows, some of them broken and mended with old hats and petticoats, and
over the door was painted, “the Union Hotel, by Jonathan Doolittle.” Instead of
the great tree that used to shelter the quiet little Dutch inn of yore, there
now was reared a tall naked pole, with something on the top that looked like a
red night-cap, and from it was fluttering a flag, on which was a singular
assemblage of stars and stripes—all this was strange and incomprehensible. He
recognized on the sign, however, the ruby face of King George, under which he
had smoked so many a peaceful pipe; but even this was singularly metamorphosed.
The red coat was changed for one of blue and buff, a sword was held in the hand
instead of a sceptre, the head was decorated with a cocked hat, and underneath
was painted in large characters, GENERAL WASHINGTON.
This passage is significant in outlining the great change that happens to
the world whether we are acting in it or not. Rip was well-known in his village,
mostly as a slacker with a smile on his face and a story on his lips, but still
well-known and everything was familiar to him. After taking a drunken nap on
spiked dwarf/fairy juice, he returns to his village decades later a much older
man and finds almost nothing familiar to him any longer. The buildings,
landscape, even the people are all strangers to him, as he is also a stranger to
himself. No longer does he hold a place in his own world. Many things can be
inferred from this metaphor; the biggest being change and progress.
The American Revolution swept through our blooming nation and not only
separated us from England’s rule, but unified us as a people. Before the war,
there were many settlements scattered throughout the land with very little
communication and unity. With England so far away, any sort of help was a far
fetch and an even farther trip across an ocean. Life was rugged and harsh as is
symbolized by Rip’s nagging wife in the beginning because he never wants to do
any of his own work. Things soon changed for Rip and our America as the war
brought us together as a nation. At this time, we now have control of our own
government and are set to pave the way as we see best for ourselves, not what
someone else believes is best for us. Rip coming home to find old buildings,
unfamiliar people, political progress, and a new flag symbolizes the fact that
change must occur in order for evolution to take place. Nothing ever stays the
same for too long and I believe Rip took his situation for granted. However, Rip
soon does in fact find his place in the new world as people still need relief in
stories, because let’s face it, all work and no play is no fun.
The main point to be taken away from this particular passage, and Rip’s
story as a whole, is that change is a necessary element in human society. Yes,
we all come from somewhere and we all have our different stories and tales of
say, how the world was created, but to exist in the here and now, we must pay
attention to our surroundings. The world will continue to change. What makes a
difference is each individual playing his personal part in securing the future
of our lives and society. Rip Van Winkle may never get the whole political
agenda, but at least he is now, after returning from his dream sleep, no longer
oblivious to his surroundings and plays his part in his society.
