Subject: English Standard: III Year: 2020-2021

ENGLISH TEXTBOOK CHAPTER-7: Rip Van Winkle

Syllabus: Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving

Scope of syllabus: In this lesson, you will learn to describe different

characters.

About the author: Washington Irving (1783-1859) was an American

short -story writer, essayist, historian, biographer and a diplomat. The

story, Rip Van Winkle was published in the year 1819-20.

Introduction: “Rip Van Winkle” is a story about a simple, good-natured

man named Rip Van Winkle who falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains

for twenty years.

Characters:

Rip Van Winkle

Wolf (The dog)

Judith Gardenier

Explanation of the story:

Click the link below to have a better understanding of the story.

https://youtu.be/fH9lGv1VWgs

Many years ago, at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains was a little

village where lived a simple, good-natured fellow named Rip Van

Winkle.

Everyone in the village loved him, even the children. Rip would never

refuse to assist a neighbour, no matter how difficult the work was. The

only problem with Rip was that he was very lazy. He did no work on his

own farm and just idled away his time. His wife always quarrelled with

him for his idleness and carelessness.

Rip’s only loyal friend was his dog, named Wolf who was very obedient

to his master.

Over the years, the quarrels between Rip and his wife grew worse and

Rip’s only way to escape the labour of the farm and the clamour of his

wife, was to stroll away into the woods. On one

such instance, Rip scrambled to one of the

highest parts of the Catskill Mountains.

Suddenly, he heard a voice from a distance shouting,

‘Rip Van Winkle! Rip Van Winkle!’ Rip looked around

Clamour-loud noise

stroll-walk

scrambled- to move quickly

Toiling up-to

move with

much difficulty

https://youtu.be/fH9lGv1VWgs

and saw a strange figure slowly toiling up the rocks, carrying something

on his back.

The stranger was a short, old fellow, with thick

bushy hair and a grizzled beard. He bore on his

shoulder a stout keg and made signs for Rip to

help him carry the load. Rip agreed to help the

stranger.

Together they reached a place where there were some more odd-looking

men, playing ninepins.

His companions emptied the contents of the keg into large containers.

Rip also tasted the drink and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Grizzled beard- mixture

of white and dark hair

Bore-to carry

Stout-thick and heavily

built

Keg- a small barrel

On waking, Rip found himself at the same place where he

first met the stranger. As he rose to walk, he found himself

stiff in the joints and his beard had grown a foot long.

When he reached his village, he met a number of people but none of

them looked familiar. Then, he went to his own house but it was empty.

He called loudly for his wife and children but there was no one to reply

him back. Just then, a woman carrying a child joined the crowd who was

calling her child as Rip.

On further enquiry, Rip realised that the name of the woman was Judith

Gardenier. She was his daughter. He also found out that his wife was no

more and he himself had vanished for twenty years.

Rip’s daughter was very happy to get her father back. She took him

home to live with her till the end of his days.

Stiff-not

able to bent

SPELLINGS

assist quarrelled idleness carelessness obedient

labour clamour stroll scrambled perceived

grizzled complied anxiety throng frightened

faltering

Worksheet

A. Meanings

1. clamour- loud noise

2. stroll-walk

3. bore- to carry

4. keg-a small barrel

5. complied-to agree

6. chamber- a large room

7. throng- a crowd

B. Answer in one word.

1. to move quickly- Scrambled

2. to catch sight of- Perceived

3. to move slowly with difficulty- Toiling

4. a mixture of dark and white hair- Grizzled

5. thick and heavily built- Stout

6. speaking hesitantly-Faltering

C. Tick the correct answers.

1. When Rip had a bad quarrel with his wife, he ___________.

a. went off to sleep

a. walked away into the woods

b. spent time with a friend

2. Rip’s wife fought with Rip because of ____________.

a. his bad temper

b. him helping the neighbours

b. his idleness and carelessness

3. Once Rip’s strange companion emptied the contents of the keg into

large containers, ___________.

a. Rip felt tired and fell asleep

c. Rip tasted the drink

b. Rip made friends with the odd-looking people

4. When Rip woke up, he __________.

a. met people he did not know

b. found his house easily

c. found himself near the Hudson river

5. After realising that the woman was his daughter, Rip wanted to

____________.

a. run away from there

b. find out about his wife

c. tell her his story

D. Answer the following questions.

1. Who used to quarrel with Rip for his idleness and carelessness?

Answer. Rip’s wife

2. Who did Rip meet up in the mountains?

Answer. A very odd- looking stranger

3. Name the dog who was Rip’s only loyal friend?

Answer. Wolf

4. Where was Rip’s village situated?

Answer. Foothills of the Catskill Mountains.

5. What kind of a man was Rip Van Winkle?

Answer. Rip was a simple, good- natured man.

6. What was the stranger carrying on his shoulder?

Answer. A stout keg

7. How long was Rip Van Winkle asleep on the mountains?

Answer. Twenty years

E. Fill in the blanks with the given phrases in the box.

take off put on give up broke down walk out moved in

1. I did not give up studies even when I was ill.

2. We moved in once the painters had left.

3. He had to walk out of the party as he was feeling sick.

4. The car broke down this morning.

5. The flight will take off at 9 a.m. today.

6. Neel is going to put on his new shirt for the party.

F. Tick the correct spelling.

1. asist assist asisst

2. quarreled quarelled quarrelled

3. obedient obedeent obidient

4. clamour clamur clamoure

5. grizled grizzled grizeled

6. complyed complieed complied

7. throng throwng thrange

8. percived perceived persieved

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