“Rip Van Winkle” is a myth, which is a false belief or idea. Mythological stories are tales passed down from generation to generation. Myths are stories set in the past, containing strange characters. Which are sometimes supernatural beings. These stories also contain mystical or magical events. The stories tell us about their events in their life. A national mythology is a body of stories that reflect and celebrate a nation’s ideas. Irving shows the meaning of American mythology through the setting