Answer and Explanation:
In the short story "Rip Van Winkle", author Washington Irving uses imagery to describe the forest setting. That means he describes it in a vivid way, appealing to the five senses. His word choice also helps convey the feeling that the forest is enchanted, special, as if something magical will take place in it at any time - as it, in fact, does. The brief passages that follow are taken from the story and help illustrate this point:
"the still solitudes had echoed;" "the reflection of a purple cloud;" "glassy bosom;" " the mountains began to throw their long blue shadows over the valleys."
There is a mystical aura surrounding these solitary mountains that cast blue shadows and are topped by purple clouds. As we know, the character, Van Winkle, falls asleep after going up the mountain and only wakes up after 20 years. But, with a description as the one given by Irving, who could be surprised at that?
