He used to tell his story to every stranger that arrived at Mr. Doolittle's hotel. He was observed, at first, to vary on some points every time he told it, which was, doubtless, owing to his having so recently awaked. It at last settled down precisely to the tale I have related, and not a man, woman, or child in the neighborhood but knew it by heart. Some always pretended to doubt the reality of it, and insisted that Rip had been out of his head, and that this was one point on which he always remained flighty. The old Dutch inhabitants, however, almost universally gave it full credit. Even to this day they never hear a thunder-storm of a summer afternoon about the Kaatskill, but they say Hendrick Hudson and his crew are at their game of ninepins; and it is a common wish of all henpecked husbands in the neighborhood, when life hangs heavy on their hands, that they might have a quieting draught out of Rip Van Winkle's flagon.
HELPS TO STUDY.
The three stages of the story are: The sleep, the return, the recognition. Through them all personal identity remains.
Notes and Questions.
Rip Van Winkle--the man: his characteristics, habits, family.
The place: the village, the inn, the surroundings, the times.
The autumn ramble: the woods, the dog, the gun, the Hudson, the stranger, the "ninepins" company, the flagon, the waking--the changed scenes.
The afternoon of the day, the afternoon of the year (autumn), and the afternoon of life (old man) are chosen by the author.
What is the fitness in selecting a village near the mountains? Why choose a village at all?
Note the civic progress of the people--the change from a royal dependency to an independent republic.
Locate on the map the scene of this selection and tell the period in which it occurred. Point out parts of the story that tell you when it happened.