In Rip Van Winkle, by Washington Irving, we notice numerous changes in the setting throughout the story. Changes include everything from Nature, to the town, and to the people. These changes force Rip Van Winkle to realize he was asleep for much longer than he originally thought when he first woke up. The story starts out by painting a picture of nature and the surroundings of the village. We get a picture of beauty and grace with explanations such as of the one used to describe the Kaatskill Mountains. Thus, showing the reader a complete picture of the world around Rip Van Winkle. It is necessary to set the scene here so we know what it looked like before Rip slept for twenty years. As the story progresses, we are allowed glimpses into the sight of the village. We are shown that the village is somewhat worn down and old looking. The roof had fallen in, the windows were shattered, and the doors were hanging off of the hinges.
             Irving goes on to say that Rip Van Winkles house was sadly timeworn and weather-beaten. By showing the reader the very sight of what Rip Van Winkle may have seen, we learn of his surroundings, which give us an understanding of how it all changes after he wakes up.
             Throughout the story, we know that Rip knows most of the people in the village. We know this because when he comes back after sleeping for the twenty years, he immediately notices all of the different people in the town and can quickly identify that the people that are in his village are not the ones he knew before he left. He goes back to the village meeting many people but none of whom he knew, which some what surprised him, for he had thought himself aquatinted with every one in the country round. After he awoke, he walks into town and starts questioning anyone he comes into contact with about where a certain person was, or what happened to someone else he had known. This shows that he had some personal relat
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