First published in 1819, 'Rip Van Winkle' is one of the most famous pieces of writing by Washington Irving, whose contribution to American literature was considerable. 'Rip Van Winkle' has become a byword for the idea of falling asleep and waking up to find the familiar world around us has changed. But what is less well-known, especially outside of America perhaps, is the specific detail of this most iconic of American stories. Before we offer some words of analysis, it might be worth summarising the plot of the tale.In a village near the Catskill Mountains in New York lives a man named Rip Van Winkle - a kind neighbour and henpecked husband. He is dutiful and quick to help his friends and neighbours, and is well liked. In addition to his 'termagant' or fierce wife, he has children, including a son, also named Rip, who bears a strong resemblance to his father. Rip Van Winkle also has a dog, Wolf, who is also put upon by 'Dame Van Winkle', Rip's wife. Rip's farm is a constant source of trouble for him, and the only pleasure he derives is from his regular meetings with other men of the village, who meet outside the local pub, named after King George the Third of Great Britain, to discuss village gossip and other topics. One day, Rip Van Winkle goes for a walk up the Catskill Mountains, with his dog Wolf for company. As he is about to descend, he hears someone shouting his name. A strange, short man with a grey beard appears, wearing antique Dutch clothes. He beckons Rip to follow him, and they arrive at a woodland amphitheatre where strange people are playing ninepins. They are also dressed in old clothes. The man who has led Rip here has a keg of alcoholic drink, which he shares with these figures. Rip tries the drink, and takes such a shining to it that he ends up drinking too much of it, and he sinks into a deep sleep. When he wakes up, all of the strange figures have gone, including the man with the keg of liquor. Rip's dog has also gone. The gun he'd taken with him up the mountain has gone, and a rusted gun is there next to him instead.