Write an essay on: Irving’s ;Rip Van Winkle; demonstrating understanding of the work as literature.

You will write an essay on the following: Irving’s "Rip Van Winkle."
You are asked to examine how a literary work expresses the culture of the time that it was written. At the same time, you must demonstrate an understanding of the work as literature. For example, you might tell about how a story’s setting symbolizes a struggle to define American self-identity.