Why do colonial recreations remain so popular, despite the obvious lack of popular interest in reading William Bradford, John Winthrop, John Smith, and Cotton Mather? If you have ever been to one of these recreations, what did you like about it? How would Handler and Saxton explain their popularity?

What has changed in Rip Van Winkle’s town after his twenty years of sleep? How has the economy changed? How have people’s ways of interacting changed? Does Irving seem to welcome or dislike these changes? How do you know?

OR

How does “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” seem to regard Ichabod Crane? How is he different from those who have long lived in the valley? How would you characterize the clash of values between Crane and these long-time inhabitants?