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 displays a fully developed personality and full emotions. Flat characters, also known as supporting characters, do not develop fully or express complex emotions. A stock character, also known as a stereotype, fits an established characterization from real life or literature. With these three types of characters leading the reader through the story, the reader learns the events taking place as well as the changes in the character's lives. The author keeps the reader informed of the changes affecting the characters throughout the narrative through style. When a character undergoes a fundamental change in nature or personality during the story, the character has dynamic style. However, a character without change defines a static character. Although all characters have a style and type sometimes understanding the differences appears complicated. A chart often helps establish a better understanding of character type and style. The following chart represents the characters used by Washington Irving in "Rip Van Winkle": Character Location Type Style Rip (Pro) Paragraph threeLines seven and eight R S Dame Paragraph four R S Wolf Paragraph nineLine one and two F S Derrick Van Bummel Paragraph ten Line seven R D Nicholas Vedder Paragraph tenLines one, two, and three R D Rip Jr.
