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1 vote
He passage.

excerpt from "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving
was, as usual, a crowd of folk about the door, but none
p recollected. The very character of the people seemed
ed. There was a busy, bustling, disputatious tone about it,
of the accustomed phlegm and drowsy tranquillity. He
in vain for the sage Nicholas Vedder, with his broad face,
e chin, and fair long pipe, uttering clouds of tobacco smoke
d of idle speeches; or Van Bummel, the schoolmaster,
forth the contents of an ancient newspaper. In place of
a lean bilious-looking fellow, with his pockets full of
ills, was haranguing vehemently about rights of citizens-
on-members of Congress-liberty-Bunker's Hill-
s of seventy-six-and other words, that were a perfect
onish jargon to the bewildered Van Winkle.
ppearance of Rip, with his long grizzled beard, his rusty
g piece, his uncouth dress, and the army of women and
en that had gathered at his heels, soon attracted the
ion of the tavern politicians. They crowded around him,
him from head to foot with arnot curineity The orator
arres
How does this description of the village affect the story?
It conveys how much the passage of time and events
have altered the village and its community.
O
It shows how the outcome of the American
Revolution has created conflict among the villagers.
O
It mirrors earlier descriptions of the village as a
traditional community unaffected by world events.
O
It demonstrates how isolation from the outside world
has made villagers suspicious of strangers.

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The village's description in 'Rip Van Winkle' shows significant change, contrasting past tranquility with a new, active political atmosphere that underscores Rip's disorientation and thematic elements of change over time. The correct statement will be It conveys how much the passage of time and events have altered the village and its community.

Step-by-step explanation:

The description of the village in Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle significantly affects the story by illustrating the profound changes that have occurred during Rip's absence. The bustling, disputatious atmosphere of the village, filled with talk of rights of citizens, non-members of Congress, and liberty, contrasts sharply with the sleepy tranquility of the past.

This change is symbolized by the absence of familiar, idle figures like Nicholas Vedder and the presence of a lean, bilious-looking fellow discussing topics that are foreign to Rip. The transformed village serves to highlight Rip's disorientation and the passage of time, ultimately underlining the story's themes of change and the inexorable flow of history.

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