Synonyms
More meanings
Tip: select a single word for meaning & synonyms.
Select multiple words normally to copy text.
Rip Van Winkle: NBSE Class 9 English notes, summary, answers
Get here the summary, notes, questions, answers, pdf, and extras of NBSE class 9 English chapter Rip Van Winkle. However, these notes should be used only for references, and additions/modifications should be made as per the requirements.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
Rip Van Winkle was a kind and friendly man who lived in a small village at the foot of the Kaatskill mountains. He loved helping his neighbors and playing with the village children. However, Rip was very lazy. He disliked doing work on his farm and would often wander off into the woods with his dog Wolf to avoid work and get away from his wife Dame Van Winkle’s scolding about his laziness.
One day, to escape his wife’s anger, Rip walked up into the mountains with his dog. There he met a strange bearded man carrying a keg of liquor. Rip helped the man carry the keg to a spot where some oddly dressed men were playing an intense, silent game of nine-pins. When Rip’s companion offered Rip and the other men liquor from the keg, Rip drank some and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
When Rip woke up, he was surprised to find himself alone in the mountains. His gun had rusted and Wolf was nowhere to be found. Rip walked back to the village but everything seemed changed. The village was bigger with unfamiliar faces and oddly dressed people. Even Rip’s own house was decrepit and abandoned.
In confusion, Rip realized his beard had grown a foot long. Some village children laughed and stared at him. A group of men told him he had been gone for 20 years! They claimed he was Rip Van Winkle and had disappeared in the mountains decades ago.
Finally an old woman recognized him. She explained Rip had vanished 20 years ago and many thought him dead. She welcomed him home. Rip’s grown daughter came and took him to live with her. Though confused by the dramatic changes, in time Rip made new friends in the village. His easygoing spirit allowed him to once again become a beloved familiar face in the town.
Textual questions and answers
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Dame Van Winkle continuously reminded Rip Van Winkle about.
A. the weeds in the fields B. his idleness and carelessness C. his cow that always went astray D. their ragged and wild children
Answer: B. his idleness and carelessness
2. Rip Van Winkle walked away to the highest parts of the Kaatskill Mountains because
A. he wanted to get away from his neighbours B. he wanted to get away from Wolf, his companion in idleness C. he wanted to escape his wife’s rage D. he wanted to play with the strange men
Answer: C. he wanted to escape his wife’s rage
3. The people of the village stared at him in surprise because
A. they had never seen him before B. his beard had grown a foot long C. he had come back after twenty years D. the children were hooting after him
Answer: B. his beard had grown a foot long [Note: the correct answer can be any of the options, logically thinking, The story doesn’t explicitly state the correct answer]
4. When Rip Van Winkle returned to the village he found
A. that dogs recognised him and followed him around B. the village had changed and it had more people C. the children were shouting with joy D. that Dame Van Winkle was not angry with him anymore
Answer: B. the village had changed and it had more people
5. The first person to recognise Rip was
A. Wolf B. Dame Van Winkle C. Rip’s daughter D. An old woman
Answer: D. An old woman
Read and Write
1. Rip Van Winkle had a way with children. Give three reasons to justify the statement.
Answer: Rip Van Winkle had a way with children because he helped them at sports, made their playthings, taught them to fly kites and shoot marbles, and told them long stories.
2. How did Rip Van Winkle spend his days?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle spent his days fishing all day long, carrying a light gun on his shoulder and spending hours in the woods to shoot a few squirrels or wild pigeons, and avoiding work on his farm.
3. What happened as a result of Rip Van Winkle’s laziness?
Answer: As a result of Rip Van Winkle’s laziness, his farm was the worst off compared to those of his neighbours, with fences always falling to pieces, his cow going astray or getting among the cabbages, and weeds growing in his fields.
4. How did Rip Van Winkle react to his wife’s scolding?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle reacted to his wife’s scolding by taking the gun in hand and strolling away into the woods, thus avoiding her wrath.
5. Whom did Rip encounter on the hills?
Answer: On the hills, Rip encountered a strange figure, a short old fellow with thick bushy hair and a grizzled beard, dressed in old Dutch fashion, carrying a keg on his shoulder.
6. Where did the strange man take Rip?
Answer: The strange man took Rip to a place where there were odd-looking persons playing at nine-pins.
7. What were the strange men doing?
Answer: The strange men were playing at nine-pins in complete silence, their faces very serious despite having fun.
8. How was Rip lulled into a deep sleep?
Answer: Rip was lulled into a deep sleep after drinking several glasses of liquor, which he found to his liking, and then fell into a deep sleep.
9. How had everything changed when Rip woke up?
Answer: When Rip woke up, he found his gun old and rusted, Wolf gone, and it difficult to get up. The village had changed; it was larger and more populated, with strange names over the doors and strange faces at the windows, and Rip’s beard had grown a foot long.
10. How was Rip Van Winkle finally accepted back in his village?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle was finally accepted back in his village when an old woman recognised him and exclaimed, “It’s Rip Van Winkle! Welcome home again, you kind neighbour!” Then Rip’s daughter heard of this and took him home to live with her, and soon Rip made new young friends again, becoming their favourite uncle.
Think and write
1. How would you characterize Rip Van Winkle? (Hints: you may include-henpecked, easy-going, lazy, irresponsible, likeable, etc.) Give one reason for each of these traits.
Answer: Rip Van Winkle embodies several traits: he is easy-going, as he prefers leisure and companionship over work; lazy, evident by his neglected farm and preference for fishing and hunting; likeable, given his popularity among village children and his amiability with everyone; irresponsible, because he fails to maintain his farm and look after his family; and henpecked, as he constantly endures scolding from his wife without making any changes to his behavior.
2. How would you characterize his wife? (Hints: you may include- -a shrew, hot-tempered, bossy, disturbed, etc.) Give one reason for each trait.
Answer: His wife is depicted as hot-tempered and bossy, frequently chastising Rip for his idleness and the disarray of their home. She is disturbed by Rip’s lack of responsibility, which fuels her constant complaints and scolding, reflecting her deep frustration with their living situation and Rip’s inaction.
3. What were the similarities and differences in Rip’s village in the beginning and at the end of the story?
Answer:
| Village in the beginning of the story | Village at the end of the story |
| Similarities – Children on the road – Dogs on the road – People on the road | – Children on the road – Dogs on the road – People on the road |
| Differences – Rip was happy – Rip knew everyone – The village was smaller and less populated. | – Rip was confused. – Rip recognised no one – The village had grown larger and more populated. |
In the beginning and at the end of the story, children playing on the road remain a constant, symbolizing the village’s ongoing life and youthfulness. However, significant differences emerge upon Rip’s return; initially happy and familiar with his surroundings, Rip finds himself confused and alienated in a village that has grown more populated and changed in appearance, reflecting the profound transformations during his twenty-year absence.
4. What essentially are the characteristics of a hero? Would you consider Rip Van Winkle a hero? Why or why not?
Answer: A hero typically exhibits bravery, selflessness, and inspires others. Rip Van Winkle, while likeable, lacks these heroic qualities; his actions are motivated by a desire to escape responsibility rather than confront challenges or benefit others. Thus, Rip does not fit the traditional definition of a hero, as his story focuses more on the consequences of his escapism and neglect.
5. What is the moral of ‘Rip Van Winkle’? Answer in about 100 words.
Answer: The moral of “Rip Van Winkle” centres on the pitfalls of avoidance and neglect of one’s duties. Rip’s withdrawal from societal and familial responsibilities leads to his eventual estrangement from the world, underscoring the importance of staying engaged with one’s community and adapting to change. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of shirking responsibilities and the inevitable progress of time and society, which waits for no one. It emphasises the value of active participation in life’s duties and the negative consequences of choosing escapism over engagement..
Extra MCQs
1. Where did Rip Van Winkle live?
A. In the heart of the city B. At the foot of the Kaatskill mountains C. Near a large river D. On a small island
Answer: B. At the foot of the Kaatskill mountains
2. What was Rip Van Winkle known for in his village?
A. His laziness B. His helpful nature C. His unfriendliness D. His wealth
Answer: B. His helpful nature
3. What activity did Rip Van Winkle enjoy the most?
A. Working on his farm B. Fishing and hunting C. Running errands for the women in the village D. Playing with children
Answer: B. Fishing and hunting
4. What was Rip’s major problem according to the text?
A. He was too ambitious B. He was lazy and hated work C. He was too generous D. He was very forgetful
Answer: B. He was lazy and hated work
5. Who was Rip’s sole companion at home?
A. His son B. His wife C. His dog, Wolf D. His neighbor
Answer: C. His dog, Wolf
6. Why did Rip walk away to the Kaatskill mountains?
A. To hunt for deer B. To escape his wife’s rage C. To find his lost cow D. To meet with friends
Answer: B. To escape his wife’s rage
7. What did Rip find at the top of the mountain?
A. A group of men playing cards B. A group of men playing at nine-pins C. A lost treasure D. His missing cow
Answer: B. A group of men playing at nine-pins
8. How did Rip fall into a deep sleep?
A. By lying on the grass B. After drinking a strange liquor C. After getting lost in the woods D. Due to exhaustion from climbing
Answer: B. After drinking a strange liquor
9. What did Rip find when he woke up?
A. His village was exactly the same B. He had been asleep for a few hours C. His gun was old and rusted D. His dog had stayed by his side
Answer: C. His gun was old and rusted
10. How did the village react to Rip’s return?
A. They celebrated his return B. They did not recognize him C. They were afraid of him D. They asked him to leave
Answer: B. They did not recognize him
11. What had happened to Rip’s beard?
A. It had been shaved off B. It had grown a foot long C. It turned white D. There was no change
Answer: B. It had grown a foot long
12. How had the village changed during Rip’s absence?
A. It became deserted B. It was exactly the same C. It was larger and more populated D. It had been destroyed
Answer: C. It was larger and more populated
13. Who was the first to recognize Rip upon his return?
A. His daughter B. An old woman C. His wife D. His dog, Wolf
Answer: B. An old woman
14. How long had Rip slept according to the story?
A. One year B. Ten years C. Twenty years D. Fifty years
Answer: C. Twenty years
15. Where did Rip go to live after returning to the village?
A. With his wife B. Alone in his old house C. With his daughter D. In the mountains
Answer: C. With his daughter
Extra Questions and Answers
1. Where did Rip Van Winkle live?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle lived at the foot of the Kaatskill mountains in a village.
2. How was Rip Van Winkle regarded by the children of the village?
Answer: The children of the village would shout with joy whenever he approached.
3. What kind of tasks did Rip Van Winkle help with in the village?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle helped with sports, made playthings, taught children to fly kites and shoot marbles, told them long stories, and was employed by women of the village to run their errands.
4. What was Rip Van Winkle’s attitude towards work?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle was lazy and hated work.
5. Describe the state of Rip Van Winkle’s farm and family.
Answer: Rip’s farm was in disarray, with fences always falling to pieces, and his cow and weeds causing trouble. His children were as ragged and wild as if they belonged to nobody.
6. How did Rip Van Winkle escape his wife’s wrath?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle avoided his wife’s wrath by taking his gun and strolling into the woods, where he would share his grief with his dog, Wolf.
7. Who was Rip Van Winkle’s sole companion at home?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle’s sole companion at home was his dog, Wolf.
8. Describe Rip Van Winkle’s encounter on the mountain.
Answer: Rip Van Winkle encountered a strange figure, a short old man with thick bushy hair and dressed in old Dutch fashion, who needed help carrying a keg.
9. What happened when Rip Van Winkle drank from the keg?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle drank a few glasses from the keg, liked the drink, and fell into a deep sleep.
10. What changes did Rip Van Winkle notice upon waking up?
Answer: Upon waking, Rip noticed his clean, well-oiled gun replaced by an old rusted one, his dog Wolf disappeared, difficulty getting up, and significant changes in the village with strange names, faces, and his house in ruins.
11. How did Rip Van Winkle’s appearance change after waking up?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle found his beard had grown a foot long.
12. How did the villagers react to Rip Van Winkle when he returned?
Answer: The villagers did not recognize Rip Van Winkle, stared at him in surprise, and dogs barked at him as he passed.
13. Who first recognized Rip Van Winkle after he returned to the village?
Answer: An old woman first recognized Rip Van Winkle after he returned to the village.
14. What happened to Rip Van Winkle after his identity was confirmed?
Answer: After his identity was confirmed, Rip Van Winkle’s daughter heard of him, came, and took him home to live with her, and he once again became a favorite among the young friends.
15. Who is the author of “Rip Van Winkle”?
Answer: Washington Irving is the author of “Rip Van Winkle”.
Required notes for study
I like this app
Need remaining answers
I need the extra questions number 3
Sir, I don’t see Grammer portion and activities. Could you please upload that too!!
It’s really good
Required notes for advance study
Grammar part should also be provided