'Rip Van Winkle' Questions for Study and Discussion

"Rip Van Winkle" is a story by Washington Irving, American short-story writer. The story was published as part of The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon. Take a look at these questions for study and discussion.

• What is important about the title?
  
  
• What are the conflicts in "Rip Van Winkle"? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) do you see in the story?
  
  
• How does Irving reveal character in "Rip Van Winkle"?
  
  
• What are some themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
  
  
• Compare/Contrast Rip Van Winkle with Gulliver.
  
  
• Is Rip Van Winkle consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character? How? Why?
  
  
• Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?
  
  
• Discuss some of the symbols in "Rip Van Winkle."
  
  
• Compare "Rip Van Winkle" with "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
  
  
• Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?
  
  
• What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?
  
  
• How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else? How realistic if Irving's depiction of the Catskills?
  
  
• How does time figure into the story?
  
  
• How are women depicted in the story?