The two main characters of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,' Ichabod Crane and his nemesis, Brom Bones, are often assumed to be figures of American folklore, although they are in fact Irving's original creations. Characters in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow To what extent does Irving's use of unusual terms serve to characterize the narrator of his story, creating an impression of voice and personality? To what extent does his style serve to keep readers at a distance from the story, inviting us to watch it unfold as informed observers rather than become emotionally involved?Īctivity 3. Talk about what is lost and gained in these transformations. When students have shared and compared definitions, explore the contribution of hard and far-fetched words to Irving's style by having students re-write short passages of the story in the simpler, more direct manner a writer might use today.Take advantage of the print-out format that online texts make possible by having students underline unfamiliar words as they read 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.' Then divide the class into small groups, assigning a section of the story to each group, and have students use context clues and dictionaries to produce an annotated edition of the tale. In the first paragraph, for example, words like cove, denominate, implore, inveterate, propensity, vouch, advert, and repose may frustrate young readers. Though the story Irving tells in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' will be familiar to most students, many of the words he uses will likely puzzle them. To what extent does this indispensable ingredient for a mystery advance the plot?Īctivity 2. Then examine the part suspense plays in the narrative. Ask students to summarize the story's plot from this point of view, as a chain of events set in motion by the ambitions of Ichabod Crane. And as in a fabliaux, appetite is the driving force behind the plot, in this case the appetites of Ichabod Crane - for food, wealth, admiration, and romance. The underlying dynamics of Irving's plot. At its core, the 'Legend' is a fabliaux-like tale of rival suitors, with a suggestion that their affections are being manipulated by the lovely whom they both desire.Ask students to point out descriptions of the Headless Horseman and evaluate his impact on the narrative. The prominence of the Headless Horseman in the original story. Hollywood has made this frightening apparition the signature image of the tale, yet Irving presents him as a creature of hearsay and foolish superstition who remains indistinct even when he finally appears.Ask students to point out 'the scary parts' of the story. The proportions of humor and terror in Irving's telling. The 'Legend' has gained a reputation as a ghost story over the years, but Irving shaped it as a comic tale of self-delusion leading to its own downfall.Ask students to compare Irving's short story (one of the first examples of this genre) with the tale that has become part of American folklore. After viewing the National Geographic video above, have students read the story, first published in 1820. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.Īsk students to share what they already know about Washington Irving's 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,' which may be familiar to them from the film adaptation by Tim Burton or the animated version by Walt Disney. Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.Ĭ.6. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.Ĭ.5. Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.Ĭ.4. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development summarize the key supporting details and ideas.Ĭ.3. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.Ĭ.2.

The legend of sleepy hollow