This one definitely took some liberties, but, for a lot of. Washington irvings the legend of sleepy hollow plot summary. One of the most striking technical aspects of the legend of sleepy hollow is the layering of the narrative. There is a quiet and peaceful small town with a wealthy family and all the activities of the townsfolk surround them. Although it is known for its contribution to the creation of american culture and literature, he wrote the story while living in birmingham, england, during a tour of europe. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the legend of sleepy hollow by washington irving. The legend of sleepy hollow begins in 1790 in a small town named sleepy hollow, near modernday tarrytown. Spearheaded by the eager constable ichabod crane johnny depp and his new. Everything was fresh and newso fresh that there was a heck of a lot of land to be settled, and people were starting to move westward to do just that.
The legend of sleepy hollow, listed as one of the books that shaped america by the library of congress, was first written by washington irving in his collection of essays and short stories, the. While most of these stories deal with an americans perspective on english life, both sleepy hollow and rip van winkle established irvings reputation as the first professional american writer. The legend of sleepy hollow is a book by the author washington irving, who also wrote rip van winkle. The legend of sleepy hollow plot diagram example exposition. In a small town, a brewing romantic rivalry with a local tough and a schoolteacher culminates in a terrifying ride in the night. This story takes place in a small town in new york state. The legend of sleepy hollow, published in 1820, was americas first ghost story, and.
Though irving was american, he wrote the legend of sleepy hollow while he was living in birmingham, england in the year 1820. The legend of sleepy hollow summary from litcharts the. The legend of sleepy hollow study guide contains literature essays, a biography of washington irving, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and. Knickerbocker describes the setting, the quiet, bucolic tarry town in upstate new york that time seems to have passed by. The legend of sleepy hollow graphic novel by bo hampton. The legend of sleepy hollow plot diagram storyboard. Theme and plot diagram the theme of the story the legend of sleepy hollow is mainly to show how people react when horrible things have happened to them.
By calling the story a legend, irving places it in history with other great legends, like atlantis, the fountain of youth, or the legends of the fall. Sometimes fighting for a woman can lead to bad things rising action. The legend of sleepy hollow study guide course hero. The legend of sleepy hollow study guide from litcharts. The legend of sleepy hollow is that there is a headless horseman who rides around and disappears in a flash of fire. Then examine the part suspense plays in the narrative. The legend of sleepy hollow summary the legend of sleepy hollow is the tale of ichabod crane, who accepts the position of schoolteacher in. Literary devices in the legend of sleepy hollow owl eyes. Within the legend of sleepy hollow in particular, the narrator is a man. The legend of sleepy hollow is a short story that pretty much everyone is familiar with but not very many ichabod crane is the superstitious village schoolteacher. Plot the legend of sleepy hollow is about a young schoolteacher named ichabod crane, a tall and skinny man with a funny large nose that looks like. The legend of sleepy hollow is a gothic story by american author washington irving, contained in his collection of 34 essays and short stories entitled the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent written while irving was living abroad in birmingham, england, the legend of sleepy. The story opens with a note that it has been found among the possessions of the late diedrich knickerbocker, who is the narrator of sleepy hollow.
It tells the story of ichabod crane, a lean, lanky, and extremely superstitious schoolmaster from connecticut, who competes with abraham brom bones van brunt, the town rowdy, for the hand of 18yearold katrina van. Constructed from german tales but set in america, it is a classic tale of the conflict between city and country, and between brains and brawn. What is the plot, rising action, falling action and other. Background the legend of sleepy hollow was written by washington irving as part of his 1819 collection, the sketchbook of geoffrey crayon, gent.
The legend of sleepy hollow 1949 plot summary imdb. When the legend of sleepy hollow was published, irvings america still has its baby face and was looking up to big brother europe. The legend of sleepy hollow plot summary schoolbytes. At first glance, this conflation makes perfect sense. That night, cranes lonely night ride home becomes more lively than he. The many adaptations of the legend of sleepy hollow. The legend of sleepy hollow resurfaces every year around halloween. See in text the legend of sleepy hollow in the intriguing final paragraph, diedrich knickerbocker offers a final analysis of the story that favors superstition and legend over rationality. The legend of sleepy hollow in the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the eastern shore of the hudson, at that broad expansion of the river denominated by the ancient dutch navigators the tappan zee, and where they always prudently shortened sail and implored the protection of saint nicholas, there lies a small market town which.
Ask students to summarize the storys plot from this point of view, as a chain of events set in motion by the ambitions of ichabod crane. Knickerbocker concedes to the interpretation of the old country wives, according to whom ichabod crane fled due to supernatural forces. This study guide and infographic for washington irvings the legend of sleepy hollow offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. The legend of sleepy hollow is an 1820 short story. Seems like it doesnt have much to say, but irving sure knows how to pack a punch. The story was originally included in a collection of his essays and short stories called the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. After brom tells the tale of the headless horseman, katrina begins. The legend of sleepy hollow is a great story for halloween, and washington irving is a great american author. Washington irvings 1820 tale of a headless horseman who terrorizes the reallife village of sleepy hollow is considered one of.
The town is believed to be haunted, owing to a witchs curse in the early days of the dutch settlement, or potentially the sorcery of an old native american chief, depending on who you ask. Of course, most people who lived through the late 90s will immediately associate the legend of sleepy hollow with the 1999 tim burton film sleepy hollow. I enjoyed reading some of his most famous tales and others that i hadnt heard of, the legend of sleepy hollow, rip van winkle, the spectre bridegroom, the devil and tom walker, the legend of two discreet statues, the enchanted island, along with parts of the strange stories by a nervous gentleman really stood out. The legend of sleepy hollow tells the story of ichabod crane and his hapless attempt to win the heart and hand of katrina van tassel in the context of a comical ghost story. Ichabod comes to sleepy hollow, new york, from his home state of connecticut, to be the schoolmaster of the village. In the legend of sleepy hollow, how has the author used. Sleepy hollow washington irvings the legend of sleepy hollow begins as a lot of stories do from the 1800s. The curse of the headless horseman christopher walken is the legacy of the small town of sleepy hollow. The legend of sleepy hollow is one of the stories printed in the sketchbook of geoffrey crayon, gent. In the legend of sleepy hollow, how has the author used symbolism to reveal character and develop the plot. To what extent does this indispensable ingredient for a mystery advance the plot. His stories about old new york, are so colorful, its like going back in time.
The plot deals with a man named ichabod crane who takes up a position as a school teacher in the small town of sleepy hollow, hoping to. Once upon a time, a guy named ichabod lived in a little town called sleepy hollow. Sleepy hollow is a 1999 american gothic supernatural horror film directed by tim burton. At the highest level we have the writer washington irving, who places his stories under the name of geoffrey crayon, the fictional man responsible for compiling the sketch book. The legend of sleepy hollow literary works literature.
It is a film adaptation loosely based on washington irvings 1820 short story the legend of sleepy hollow, and stars johnny depp and christina ricci, with miranda richardson, michael gambon, casper van dien, and jeffrey jones in supporting roles. What is the plot in the legend of sleepy hollow answers. The legend of sleepy hollow is set circa 1790 in the dutch settlement of tarry town, new york, in a secluded glen called sleepy hollow. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe explains the plot summary of washington irvings short story the. There is a cartoon movie that is based on this story that they always play around halloween. I love the story of the dorkish ichabod crane trying to woo and win the lucious katrina van tassle, much to the chagrin of her suitor, bram bones.
In a bid to advance in life, he takes advantage of the daughters of where he goes to work to supplement his income. Often, new words pertaining to an unfamiliar context need to be mastered before a student can understand nuances in the story. The legend of sleepy hollow by washington irving is one of the oldest american stories still regularly taught in schools. The legend of sleepy hollow plot summary course hero. The legend of sleepy hollow is a rare example of a work of early american literature that is still often read for pleasure today. Ichabod crane is the schoolmaster in sleepy hollow, a town beset by supernatural occurrences. The legend of sleepy hollow is a short story of speculative fiction by american author washington irving, contained in his collection of 34 essays and short stories entitled the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. Ichabod crane is sent to sleepy hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people, with the culprit being the legendary apparition, the headless horseman. Ichabod desires katrina as a bride and vows to work hard to win her love.
Get an answer for what is the plot, rising action, falling action and other elements of the legend of sleepy hollow by washington irving. The legend of sleepy hollow by washington irving plot. Plot diagram the headless horseman haunts the small town of sleepy hollow ichabod crane, the schoolmaster, falls in love with the towns greatest beauty, katrina van tassel. The legend of sleepy hollow short summary summarystory. Washington irvings the legend of sleepy hollow explained in just a few minutes. Learn more about the legend of sleepy hollow with a detailed plot summary and plot diagram. After describing the area and the main legend that haunts it, knickerbocker introduces the main character of the storywhich, incidentally, took place 30 years prior to his recounting. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The situation changes when brom learns of cranes superstitions and exploits them as he musically tells the legend of.
The legend of sleepy hollow is a short story that was published in 1820 by american author washington irving. Ichabod is trying to win the hand of katrina van tassel, a beautiful eighteenyearold girl in the village. While this tale is often thought of as scary, it actually contains a great deal of humor and thoughtfulness. The situation changes when brom learns of cranes superstitions and exploits them as he musically tells the legend of the fearsome headless horseman to frighten the teacher. The legend of sleepy hollow vocabulary lesson plan the legend of sleepy hollow was first published in the early 1800s in the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. It tells the story of the headless horseman who terrorizes a small village and cuts off the heads of his victims.