Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle

Analyzation encompasses the application of given criteria to a literary work to determine how efficiently that work employs the given criteria. In the analyzation of short stories, the reader uses a brief imaginative narrative unfolding a single incident and a chief character by means of plot, the details so compressed and the whole treatment so organized, a single impression results. To expose that impression, the reader explores the workings of seven basic criteria. One particular criterion character effectively supports the central idea in "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving. The character's type develops with the personality development throughout the story. Three types of characters: round, flat, and stock, appear in most stories. The round character
The lesson taught by the author through the actions of the protagonist in the plot either through what the protagonist does or does not do. The universal truth presents an idea assumed true by the masses worldwide that teaches a lesson. The universal truth for "Rip Van Winkle" "Choice of attention - to pay attention to this and ignore that - is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences, whatever they may be". This truth becomes evident in "Rip Van Winkle" by Rip himself. Because Rip always chooses to do the chores of others, the dilapidated Van Winkle home never gets fixed and the fields, never farmed. In "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving, the author excellently expressed the central idea of the short story. The explanation of character and the use of specific information form the story demonstrate how effectively this aspect of short story structure supports the overall idea. Six other criteria plot, central idea, setting, tone, language and narrative viewpoint, explore all support aspects of the central idea in short story