Mrs. Rip Van Winkle Prsentation

Question 1

Male Dominance

Answer 1

Feeling of frustration when Mr. Rip Van Winkle appeared again

Question 2

“I took up food / And gave up exercise”

Answer 2

Men’s dominance over women was assumed in Western culture, which was primarily influenced by Christian beliefs. Based on this situation, the narrator may have felt it necessary to maintain her physical attractiveness in order for her male partner to be delighted while participating in sexual intercourse with her. However, as she grew older, not only did her attractiveness become less important, but so did her need for sexual fulfillment. Nonetheless, the narrator was given the opportunity to indulge in all the delights that she desired. This also meant she didn’t have to torture herself with tiresome and exhausting “exercise” any longer, because there was no incentive for her to keep physically attractive.

Question 3

“I sank like a stone”

Answer 3

Simile → Portrays the image of Mrs. Rip Van Winkle’s failure as sad and distressing.
The fact that she is portrayed as sinking implies failure and brings up the idea of drowning; a stressful, claustrophobic image with a sense of loss of control.
The resemblance to a stone in this simile also evokes images of people who have little control over their own destiny and are instead dragged by forces beyond their control

Question 4

Marriage

Answer 4

Relationship and interaction of Mr. and Mrs. Van Winkle

Question 5

Isolation

Answer 5

Mrs. Rip Van Winkle isolates from the society in order to find herself

Question 6

Duffys BOW

Answer 6

Duffy’s overall body of work includes a collection of poems titled “The World’s Wife.” Its content explores and investigates feminist principles through the themes of opression, isolation, love, amonst others throuhg setting it in a patriarchal society. Carol Ann Duffy was a herself an experienced wife oprresed in her marriage as a result of patriarchal society’s expectations.

Question 7

Freedom

Answer 7

Mrs. Rip Van Winkle feels free, she feels liberated from having to serve a man

Question 8

SDG 5

Answer 8

• Inequality distribution of power in the marriage and the wife’s experience of suppressed feelings, and submissiveness to her husband
• Direct connection with the SDGs intention

Question 9

Identity & Self Discovery

Answer 9

Mrs. Rip Van Winkle discovering and getting to know herself when Mr. Van Winkle is not present

Question 10

SDG 3

Answer 10

• Journey towards freedom in a path of a search of and identity and self discovery.
• Demonstrates how in Mr and Mrs Rip Van Winkle marriage there was a quest for independence and freedom.

Question 11

Feminist literary critsicm

Answer 11

→ Known as a study of the social suppression

“Looks at literature assuming its production from a male-dominated perspective, re-examines canonical works to show how gender stereotypes are involved in their functioning”

Question 12

Key Themes

Answer 12

Isolation
Independence
Identity & Self Discovery
Marriage
Male Dominance
Freedom

Question 13

“And while he slept, / I found some hobbies for myself”

Answer 13

According to the narrator, her husband went into some sort of hibernation. It’s possible that he no longer need regular satisfaction of his desires, or that their marriage had matured to the point that they didn’t need to devote as much time to each other. It could also imply that the narrator and her husband are both approaching menopause.
These were things she was denied since, according to traditional marriage beliefs, women were taught to prioritize husband and family over themselves.

Question 14

Independence

Answer 14

While discovering new landmarks and hobbies alone, she developed an independent personality