Washington Irving Lesson Plans

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Rip Van Winkle Literary Devices Lesson Plan

Theme Revealed Through Characterization and Symbolism: This lesson focuses on Irving’s use of irony and continuity in complicating the theme of tyranny vs. freedom in the story. Students will compare and contrast elements in the beginning of the story to those at the end of the story. Students will analyze...

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The Devil and Tom Walker eNotes Reading Response Prompts

In the opening paragraph, the author blends fact with fiction. Which details in the paragraph are factual? Which details are attributed to “old stories”? The story has some qualities of a folk tale, including stock characters— characters that are presented as stereotypes rather than developed as individuals. Explain how Tom’s wife fits the...

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The Devil and Tom Walker eNotes Teaching Guide

This guide highlights some of the most salient aspects of Washington Irving’s "The Devil and Tom Walker" before you begin teaching. As you guide your students through the text, they will explore themes surrounding moral corruption, societal issues, and Faustian legend.

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Rip Van Winkle Metaphor Activity

This activity gives students an opportunity to practice examining and analyzing metaphors. Metaphors express images, emotions, actions, experiences, and nuances through direct and indirect comparisons, allowing readers to access deeper levels of meaning in the text. In this activity, students will classify and analyze different kinds of metaphors in order...

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Devil and Tom Walker Themes Lesson Plan

Theme of Moral Decay Revealed Through Motifs & Symbols: This lesson plan focuses on Irving’s use of literary motifs and symbols in developing the story’s themes. Students will examine several motifs and symbols and interpret how they suggest moral decay in the characters and their society. In studying the motifs...

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Rip Van Winkle eNotes Teaching Guide

So you’re going to teach Washington Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle.” Whether it’s your first or hundredth time, this short story has been a mainstay of English classrooms for generations. While it has its challenges—necessary historical context and multiple layers of narration—teaching this text to your class will be rewarding for...

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Allusion Activity

This worksheet gives students an opportunity to practice identifying and analyzing allusions. Allusions broaden the scope of a text and imbue passages with deeper meaning by subtly drawing on unexplained references to literature, history, science, geography, philosophy, mythology, or other aspects of a culture. Allusions are thus a powerful tool...

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Rip Van Winkle Allusion Activity

This worksheet gives students an opportunity to practice identifying and analyzing allusions. Allusions broaden the scope of a text and imbue passages with deeper meaning by subtly drawing on unexplained references to literature, history, science, geography, philosophy, mythology, or other aspects of a culture. Allusions are thus a powerful tool...

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