"Rip Van Winkle" is an 1819 short story by Washington Irving and, along with "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," his best known tale (with both stories appearing in Irving's serialized collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.) It concerns a man in colonial America who wanders into the mountains and, after encountering a group of mysterious Dutchmen, falls asleep for two decades (having slumbered through the American Revolution). During his sleep, Rip grows a long beard, which has become the character's visual trademark and a pop culture signifier when characters end up in the future (via sleeping or time lapse dream sequences).
References[]
- In Episode 2853 of Sesame Street, Oscar the Grouch writes the story of Luis Van Winkle, who falls asleep and grows a long beard (which trips everyone else). Telly Monster revises the story so Luis wakes up and shaves his beard to prevent it being a hazard.
- In Episode 4143, during the "Sleeping Grouchy" story, Telly and his feline band say that they used their combined tuba playing and meowing prowess to wake up Rip Van Winkle.
Connections[]
- Maya Angelou voiced the Fairy God-Mentor in the Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child episode (2000)
- Tom Arnold voiced Rip Winkle in a 2000 episode of Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
- Sandra Bernhard voiced the Bluebird in the Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child episode (2000)
- Gloria Steinem voiced a Thunder Mountain woman in the Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child episode (2000)