Rip Van Winkle
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Tyranny vs. Freedom Active vs. Passive Resistance Truth, History and Storytelling Labor vs. Productivity Change vs. Stasis
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Diedrich Knickerbocker Rip Van Winkle Dame Van Winkle Rip Van Winkle, Jr. Derrick Van Bummel Nicholas Vedder Hendrick Hudson / the crew of the Half Moon
Symbols
All Symbols The Inn The Flagon of Drink The Union Hotel
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allegory Dramatic Irony Frame Story Genre Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Satire Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone Unreliable Narrator
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Rip Van Winkle

by

Washington Irving

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Tyranny vs. Freedom Theme Icon
    Tyranny vs. Freedom
  • Active vs. Passive Resistance Theme Icon
    Active vs. Passive Resistance
  • Truth, History and Storytelling Theme Icon
    Truth, History and Storytelling
  • Labor vs. Productivity Theme Icon
    Labor vs. Productivity
  • Change vs. Stasis Theme Icon
    Change vs. Stasis
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Diedrich Knickerbocker
  • Rip Van Winkle
  • Dame Van Winkle
  • Rip Van Winkle, Jr.
  • Derrick Van Bummel
  • Nicholas Vedder
  • Hendrick Hudson / the crew of the Half Moon
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Inn Symbol Icon
    The Inn
  • The Flagon of Drink Symbol Icon
    The Flagon of Drink
  • The Union Hotel Symbol Icon
    The Union Hotel
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allegory
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Frame Story
  • Genre
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Satire
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
  • Unreliable Narrator
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
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Rip Van Winkle Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Winner, Kathryn. "Rip Van Winkle." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 16 May 2015. Web. 15 May 2025.


Chicago

Winner, Kathryn. "Rip Van Winkle." LitCharts LLC, May 16, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/rip-van-winkle.

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