Parallels Between Myths And Mythology In Rip Van Wrinkle

A myth is described as a traditional or legendary story. Common types of myths, Shakespearian, Biblical, and Folk/ Fairy tale.

The great story “Rip Van Winkle” is an excellent example of an American Mythology. The three characteristics of an American mythology is Set in the past, often in remote or exciting places and times, Filled with remarkable, strange, or exaggerated characters, and Feature incredible, heroic, impressive, magical, or mysterious events and their consequences.

Next, the characters enter the scene of mythology. In order for mythology to come across as supernatural, the characters must lend themselves to mystery. In Rip Van Winkle, not only do other intriguing characters appear, but Rip himself tends towards strange behaviors. After all, Rip did sleep for twenty years without waking. That in its self begins to reveal the underlying interest of the story. Perhaps the most strange and exaggerated characters would prove to be the bowler in the forest. In the text it says, “He was still more surprised at the singularity of the stranger’s appearance.” It goes on to

Identify a modern “myth,” in 1-2 pages describe it, in 1-2 more pages explain why it is mythical/ draw analogues with myths we have read, then in 3-4 pages analyze its meaning/function in our world.

The word myth is used most popularly in tales and stories. These tales and stories have been passed

These Myths have stories behind them like how every story has a theme or moral. Every paragraph has part in the story a new outlook on the topic or even

“A hero is someone who, in spite of weakness, doubt or not always knowing the answers, goes ahead and overcomes anyway”-Joseph Campbell. Stories have so much power connect you to another world and teach you lessons that are needed throughout history. Archetypes give the story a focal point and shape the lesson the author is trying to get across. When ideals get embedded into stories, usually it’s when the hero does something noble and valiant so they want their readers to follow in his footsteps. The Anglo-Saxon Beowulf and Medieval Christian King Arthur display many archetypes and ideals to shape the story and make it exciting. The Beowulf and King Arthur storytellers use archetypes to create stories with suspense and have their heroes display values of loyalty to their respective listeners.

The difference between legends, myths, and folktales have become lost over the years. Legends originate from stories passed down person to person and contain small fractions of truth, myths come from beliefs shared in a culture rather than hard facts, and folktales originate from different tales or legends that have evolved into different variations. Although each of these have their own aspects, they all share in common the characteristic of lacking

One of the characteristics is the setting of where the mythology takes place. In the story, it is described as a very breathtaking landscape. In the story it states, “when the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their bold outlines on

Although there are many similarities, not only in the folktale of Cupid and Psyche, but also in several common fairytales, there seems to be some distinct characteristics that separate a myth from a fairytale. The tale of Cupid and Psyche does not possess an "original" nor "godlike" nor "inspired" (Grimm, 4) story, but rather has an elderly woman storyteller, an enchanted castle and a

Mythology is a series of stories made by one culture to entertain or to increase the knowledge of their own beliefs to the world. Over the last few centuries, many cultures have created stories to demonstrate their valiant strength or superiority amongst other cultures. Not only that, but, they used these myths to increase faith in their religions. Nevertheless you may find texts confusing because you many think it is about a hero or the importance of religion. On an example, of a myth that has received a large amount of criticism is the mythical story of Beowulf.

Epic characteristics, conventions, and hero characteristics are what make up the epic, The Wizard of Oz. An epic characteristic seen in the book is how broad the setting is. Throughout Dorothy’s time in Oz, she crosses many different lands that are all unique in their own way; such as The Land of the East, Emerald City, The Land of the West, and more. A common convention in epics seen in the Wizard of Oz is a formal plea or an invocation for help being said by Dorothy. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy pleads for either the Wizard or Galinda to take her back home to Kansas. The hero undertaking a quest or journey is an epic hero characteristic seen in The Wizard of Oz. In the book, Dorothy takes on a huge quest to defeat the Wicked Witch so she can return home. Through epic characteristics, conventions, and hero characteristics, the epic The Wizard of Oz follows the epic hero’s journey.

In Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle," Rip's character is closely correlated with the theme of nature and its prominence over the ever-changing world. The story is set in the Kaatskill Mountains, an important setting with a luminance that does not falter throughout. Similarly, Rip is immediately described as a respectable and well liked man in his mountainous setting. Right off the bat, the two can be easily associated. The magical elements in the story cause Rip to fall asleep for twenty years, and upon waking, he is in a world completely changed by the progression of time. However, despite the extreme alterations, only Rip and the nature that he is so familiar with are able to prevail, remaining ultimately unaffected by the

Archetypes have persisted in literary works through the sands of time and continue to be applied in today’s literature. Throughout traditional and modern literature, the formulaic structure of myths and the use of archetypes has been utilized in a consistent manner. Although many would argue that the universal application of archetypes has been erratic and intermittent through time, the implementation of the major hero and mentor archetypes within the tale of King Arthur and The Odyssey, and the refined utilization of archetypes in modern literature, exhibit the universality of archetypes in different cultures and time periods.

In 1819 one of the most influential folk tales in American literature was “Rip Van Wrinkle” published by Washington Irving. This folk tale intertwines fantasy with reality and captures what it is like waking up in an anomalous yet familiar place. The main themes of Rip Van Wrinkle is Rip’s laziness, Dame’s henpecking, and the difference between Pre-Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary times. This American Mythology follows a slothful man who desires not to be bothered by his “shrewish” wife and the toil of having a farm. When going to the Catskills Mountains to nap Rip gets his wish by encountering peculiar elderly man who gives Rip a sip of an alcoholic drink from a mysterious keg. Although he is free from his burdens, he misses twenty years of his life