Question

Using textual support for your answer, what evidence is there that Rip’s encounter with the men in the mountains was not just part of a dream that he had when he fell asleep while hunting in the mountains?

Answer 1

Evidence from the texts suggests that Rip's encounter with the men in the mountains was real, due to changes in the environment, his active participation, and the real consequences following his experience.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the provided textual excerpts, we find several pieces of evidence that Rip's encounter with the men in the mountains was not merely a dream. Instances of physical changes in the environment are evident, such as "clothes had been turned into stone", indicating a transformation that cannot be ascribed to dreaming. Moreover, Rip actively participates in his surroundings, e.g., "laying his course by the rounding sun" and "fashioning a fence". These are deliberate actions that have a tangible effect on the world, which could not occur within the confines of a dream. Rip's direct interaction with figures that have agency and his environment's response to his actions suggest that the experience was more than an illusion conjured by sleep. Lastly, the emotional impact and the continuation of the story beyond the encounter imply that Rip's experience had real consequences, further distancing it from the premise of a dream.