Which character is famously known for his long sleep in a tale by Washington Irving?

The character famously known for his long sleep in a tale by Washington Irving is Rip Van Winkle. This story, first published in 1819, follows the title character who, disenchanted with his life and his domineering wife, wanders into the nearby mountains where he meets a group of mysterious men. After drinking their liquor, he falls into a deep slumber that lasts for twenty years. When he awakens, he finds that the world has changed dramatically due to the American Revolution, making his return home quite disorienting. Rip's long sleep serves as a metaphor for a significant change in American society, reflecting themes of transformation and the passage of time, central to Irving's narrative style. This distinctive plot point is what makes Rip Van Winkle a classic character in American literature, highlighting his symbolic relationship with the concept of change over time.