Vocabulary Context Clues: Rip Van Winkle
Throughout this semester, you have been learning how to use context clues to determine the meanings of words. This assignment will give you an opportunity to practice this skill.
As you read Rip Van Winkle, you probably noticed unfamiliar vocabulary. This is just another foreign language to learn and simply requires practice.
If you printed out the story and circled the words which were unfamiliar to you, you have already practiced some of the strategies associated with context clues. It is tempting for readers to simply ignore words they do not understand. By bringing those words to your attention, you are more likely to take time to figure out the meaning. Words which are unfamiliar often have such rich meanings that unless you understand them, you really have missed out on a significant part of the imagery or tone of the story.
This is true for Rip Van Winkle. The unfamiliar vocabulary of this story enriches the imagery of the events. You really do need to know what the words mean in order to fully understand and appreciate Washington Irving’s story.