Inflated Langage in "Rip Van Winkle"

Illustration for Washingtion Irving’s short story “Rip Van Winkle.” The caption reads: “A termagant wife may, therefore, in some respects, be considered a tolerable blessing, and if so, Rip Van Winkle was thrice blessed.” This illustration by N. C. Wyeth, from a 1921 edition of Irving's story, shows Rip Van Winkle being harrassed by his wife.


One of the signature elements of Irving's style is his use of comically inflated (exaggerated and pompous) language to describe the commonplace. For example, rather than plainly saying Rip is "lazy" or that he "hates work," Irving states that Rip has "an insuperable aversion to all kinds of profitable labor."

Assignment: 1. First copy out your assigned passage from this story. 2. Next, translate, as close to word-by-word as possible, this passage into plain, clear, modern English. This technique is called paraphrasing. 3. Try to explain in your own words in one to three sentences why inflated language is comic in effect or what is humorous in the passage you've worked with. Post all this as a comment. Due at 7:30 am on Monday morning, October 3rd. Meanwhile, Shana Tovah!

Passage 1:
"...he was, moreover, a kind neighbor and an obedient, henpecked husband. Indeed, to the latter circumstance might be owning that meekness of spirit which gained him such universal popularity, for those men are most apt to be obsequious and conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home" (126).

Passage 2:
"...Their tempers, doubtless, are rendered pliant and malleable in the fiery furnace of domestic tribulation; and a curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffering. A termagant wife may, therefore, in some respects be considered a blessing, and if so, Rip Van Winkle was thrice blessed" (126).

Passage 3:
"...everything he did was sure to produce a torrent of household eloquence. Rip had but one way of replying to all lectures of this kind, and that, by frequent use, had grown into a habit. He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, cast up his eyes, but said nothing. This however, always provoked a fresh volley from his wife; so that he was fain to draw off his forces, and take to the outside of the house -- the only side which, in truth, belongs to a henpecked husband" (128).

Passage 4:
"Rip's sole domestic adherent was his dog Wolf, who was as much henpecked as his master; for Dame Van Winkle regarded them as companions in idleness, and even looked upon Wolf with an evil eye, as the cause of his master's going so often astray. True it is, in all points of spirit, befitting an honorable dog, he was as courageous an animal as ever scoured the woods; but what courage can withstand the terrors of a woman's tongue" (128).


Passage 5:
"Having nothing to do at home, and being arrived at that happy age when a man can be idle with impunity, he took his place once more on the bench at the inn door, and was reverenced as one of the patriarchs of the village and a chronicle of the old times "before the war." It was some time before he could get into the regular track of gossip or be made to comprehend the strange events that had taken place during his torpor" (135).

Theme Bank: Of Mice and Men

Write two theme statements for Of Mice and Men. Each theme statement should consist of a clear statement of the theme in complete sentence form (one or two sentences) and a brief explanation of how the theme specifically connects to action or characters in the book (a third sentence). Your first theme should be the one you consider primary in importance; your second theme will be a sub-theme. Make sure you aren't repeating the same theme twice in slightly different language.

Cast of Characters

Answer the question pertaining to the character you have been assigned. Enter it as a comment. Use your name. You answer will be the basis for further class discussion. About 200 words.



Curley's wife is described as trouble and "jail bait" in the novel. She precipitates Lennie's downfall and death. But she is also another character who exemplifies human hardship and suffering. Explain how this is so and describe her character realistically but with compassion.








Carlson, some critics say, serves as an "Everyman," meaning a character who represents the average or typical individual. Looking at Carlson's role in the book, what does this tell you about the author's view of the common man?





Slim is a sort of stand-in for the author's point of view. Describe his character and explain why this is so.





Take a careful look in Chapter 4 at Crooks' interaction with Lennie and also with Candy after he joins them in Crook's room. Track the way Crooks slowly opens up to Lennie and his plan. Why is he so closed at first and what allows him to open himself to a new possibility? Finally, what closes him abruptly down? What does this say about the position of African-Americans in the 1930s?

Teacher Summaries & Best of Batch: Of Mice and Men

Exposing ourselves to quality models is one one of the best way to learn a new skill. Here are a few models for good summary writing. I'll lead with two of my own summaries, one a 44 and the other a 91 word long version. Notice what kinds of details are added on as the summary gets longer. I'll then have you vote online for the best short summary on our previous blog post and post the winning summary here.

George and his mentally handicapped companion Lenny, two migrant ranch-hands, hope to earn enough money to buy a small ranch of their own, but when Lenny inadvertently kills a young woman, George must save him from a lynch mob by executing his friend himself. (44 words)

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George and Lenny are two migrant ranch hands who travel together looking for work in California in the 1920’s or 30’s. Lenny is physically powerful but mentally handicapped and emotionally child-like. George is his devoted caretaker. The two men hope to save up enough money to buy a small farmstead of their own, but Lenny inadvertently kills a young woman, and George, to save him from a painful death at the hands of a lynch mob, executes Lenny himself while distracting him with a vision of their much yearned-for farm. (91 words)

UPDATE: The winner of our vote for best short summary... make that winnerS ... it's a tie! Four votes each for Hannah Morris and Rachel Tsuna, whose summaries now appear below mine. Honor to the winners!

Hannah Morris: Lennie, a mentally handicapped Okie, and George, Lennie’s companion and caretaker, have the ultimate American dream of owning a ranch to themselves where they can be their own bosses, but when Lennie’s disability causes complications, George must execute Lennie humanely, reprieving him the painful death awaiting him by an infuriated lynch mob.

Rachel Tsuna: George and Lennie are companions with a dream of owning a ranch where they could be free men, but their dream is shattered when Lennie, who has a disability, kills someone, leaving George with no choice but to mercifully kill him before an angry mob gets to him first.