What was "Rip Van Winkle" based on?

Question

I was recently surprised to discover that the story of Rip Van Winkle is credited to the US author Washington Irving, who published it in 1819. I'd always vaguely imagined it to be a Brothers Grimm story or an old (probably European) folk tale. It certainly has the feel of such stories.Was it, in fact, based on one? Or did Washington Irving come up with the story out of whole cloth, inspired merely by the idea and atmosphere of traditional folk tales in general?**Was "Rip Van Winkle" inspired by a particular traditional folk tale or older story?**

Answer 1

Oddly, "Rip Van Winkle" had as much to do with the American Revolutionary War as anything else, as in away with the old and in with the new.

However, the story itself is based on an old German legend known as "Peter Klaus," In this rendition Rip awakens to an entirely new country that he does not even recognize. The American Republic.

Perhaps as some think it is not coincidental that the main character is named "RIP," which is an acronym for "Rest in Peace." By naming the main character Rip, the author is saying that the old ways are dead and gone for good.