1.) What kind of person is Rip Van Winkle? What values does he represent? Are they positive or negative -- in your opinion? In Irving's opinion? In what ways might Irving's depiction of Rip and his story itself suggest a larger cultural critique (e.g. a critique of Pre-Revolutionary America vs. Post-Revolutionary America, a critique of gender roles and expectations, disconnected rural community vs. connected/aware urban society, etc.)?
2.) Imagine an encounter between Rip Van Winkle and two figures/authors we have seen in other works we've covered -e.g. Benjamin Franklin, Samual Sewall, Leather-stocking (aka Natty Bumpo), Mary Rowlandson, John Smith, etc. - and argue that these figures would or would not get along with Rip Van Winkle. How and why?