Irving, Washington: 1783-1859
Rip van Winkle, 1819 - Language/Style
- English Language Level: Intermediate
- Archaic Words and Expressions – Some words Irving uses aren’t common today (e.g., “gallant,” “mountebank”).
Sentence Structure – The sentences often have multiple clauses, which can be tricky for lower-level readers.
Formal Tone – Even dialogue can feel more formal than modern speech.
- Archaic Words and Expressions – Some words Irving uses aren’t common today (e.g., “gallant,” “mountebank”).
- The language is generally accessible to readers with an intermediate level of English. It has some archaic vocabulary and 19th-century sentence structures, but the story and dialogue are mostly clear.