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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. On his way home from the mountains, what does Rip suddenly realize about his own appearance?

2. What type of clothing is the stranger on the mountainside wearing?

3. Where does Rip find himself on the morning after meeting the strangers on the mountain?

4. What causes Rip to finally start for home after he realizes that he will not be able to find the strange men again?

5. Rip is surprised by the "singularity" of the stranger's appearance (36). What kind of appearance is this?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Rip tries to retrace his steps from the night before, what changes does he find on the mountainside itself?

2. When Rip reenters the village, what changes does he notice before he gets to his house?

3. What noise does Rip hear as he and the stranger make their way up the mountain, and what does the noise later turn out to be?

4. When Rip wakes up in the mountains, what changes does he immediately notice?

5. What two things does Rip find the most unusual about the men in the amphitheater?

6. What two things does Rip at first find odd about the stranger in the mountains?

7. What is Wolf's reaction to the stranger in the mountains, and how does it ironically relate to what happens upon Rip's return to the village?

8. What do the men in the amphitheater remind Rip of, and what is this meant to signify?

9. What does the man in the mountains want Rip's help with, and how does he communicate this?

10. Explain what the natural "amphitheater" is and how Rip and the stranger reach it.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The "termagant" wife is a frequent feature of Irving's work. Write an essay in which you consider from both a historical and literary perspective what the purpose of such a character might be. That is, how would such a character have been received in Irving's time? What literary precedent is there for a character of this nature? How does the inclusion of this type of character affect the plot and communicate theme? Be sure to offer textual evidence for your claims and cite all sources in MLA format.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay in which you analyze the role of Rip's dog, Wolf, in conveying theme. What is Wolf's role in the plot? How do different people react to him? What is the purpose of his name? What is the function of the allusion to Odysseus's dog involving Wolf? Be sure to offer textual evidence for your claims.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you argue for or against the proposition that Dame Van Winkle is an allegorical representation of Great Britain. Be sure to offer textual evidence for your claims.

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