Characters in allegories are usually symbolic. For example, Rip Van Winkle, at the start of the story, represents the lazy, complacent American at the time of the Revolution because he complies without protest to his wife. What does his wife represent in your mind? Relate elements of the story to American society, history, and spirit surrounding the Revolutionary War. How do the changes in Rip after his lengthy slumber relate to the change in America After the war? Use textual evidence to support your answers.

Textbook: An Insiders Guide to Academic Writing: A Rhetoric and Reader