The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Study Guide
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Themes
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Characters
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Analysis
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Critical Essays
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Multiple-Choice Quizzes
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Questions & Answers
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Introduction
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Biography of Washington Irving
Introduction to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a short story by Washington Irving, which was published in his short story collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. It tells the story of both Ichabod Crane and the town of Sleepy Hollow, which is known for its ghostly specters. Crane, a superstitious Connecticut school teacher, competes with a local man named Brom Bones for the hand of Katrina Van Tassel. After an unsuccessful proposal, Ichabod has a terrifying encounter with a ghosty specter known as the Headless Horseman. Ichabod then disappears from town, leaving the outcome of his encounter unclear. Some people speculate that the true culprit was actually Brom Bones in disguise, but others promote the story that Ichabod truly did encounter a ghost. Regardless, the Headless Horseman has since entered the collective cultural consciousness as a terrifying and iconic figure, and the concept is frequently employed in horror and gothic writing, especially around Halloween.
Thematically, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” operates on both a narrative and metafictional level. Narratively, the contrast between the urban Ichabod and the rural residents of Sleepy Hollow suggests that country dwellers have a more authentic, down-to-earth approach to life. Ichabod courts Katrina primarily for financial reasons, highlighting his superficiality. On a more metafictional level, Irving’s stories often highlight the nature of mythmaking and storytelling. Different aspects of the story draw different conclusions, with the opinions of the townspeople, the narrator, the writer of the postscript, and Ichabod himself contrasting wildly. Ultimately, both imagination and cultural values influence the ways in which people interact with reality.
A Brief Biography of Washington Irving
Washington Irving (1783–1859), though he wrote extensively throughout his life, is remembered essentially for two short stories. One focuses on a man who falls asleep for twenty years, and the other is a spooky tale about a teacher who loses his head. “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” have become enduring classics, inspiring numerous film and television adaptations. Yet the erudite Irving, born and raised in Manhattan, made his name early with sophisticated satire. Politics and social issues were equally important to Irving. Following his extensive travels throughout the frontier, Irving was unabashedly critical of the United States’ dealings with Indigenous peoples. It was not a popular stance at that time, but it typified Irving’s complexity and the hidden depths of his written works.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What is the author's purpose in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?
There is seldom a single purpose in a work of fiction, and Washington Irving, certainly by the standards of his time, is not a didactic or moralizing writer with a rhetorical aim in mind. Clearly,...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What is the Headless Horseman's real name?
In Washington Irving's classic short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Brom Van Brunt, known locally as "Brom Bones" for his imposing physique and legendary strength, tells a story about the...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What is the main conflict in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?
The clearest conflict in the story is between Ichabod Crane and his love rival, Brom Bones. Each man are determined to make the eligible Dutch heiress Katrina Van Tassel his wife. But as only one...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What is the climax of "The Legend Sleepy Hollow"?
In the plot of a story, the climax is that moment of greatest tension which comes after the rising action. In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the climax occurs when Ichabod Crane is pursued on...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What was Ichabod Crane known for in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?
Like most people, Ichabod Crane has a different reputation in different sections of society. In introducing the schoolmaster, Washington Irving concentrates on how he is received by the women of...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What does Crane realize while visiting the Van Tassel home in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?
In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Ichabod is deeply impressed by the home of Baltus Van Tassel and his family. He looks at the fields, the orchard, and the farm animals, imagining the fine produce...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Is "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" true?
Although much of Washington Irving's classic American short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is purely fictional, there are certain characters, locations, and incidents in the story which are...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Who is the antagonist in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?
Abraham "Brom Bones" Van Brunt is generally considered to be the main antagonist of Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." It is notable to mention, however, that Brom Bones is...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What happens to Ichabod Crane after he leaves the party in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?
Ichabod Crane is looking forward to the party at the Van Tassels', so much so that he hurries through his lessons at school so that he can get home as quickly as possible and dress up for the big...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Who do the villagers believe the Headless Horseman is?
At the beginning of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Washington Irving comments on the superstitious nature of the villagers in Sleepy Hollow. They believe in all kinds of supernatural happenings,...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What are some symbols in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?
The community of Sleepy Hollow, as portrayed in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” is mired in superstition. Despite virtually everyone in this neck of the woods being a God-fearing Christian, some...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What does the Headless Horseman symbolize?
The Headless Horseman represents the mistaken superstitions of the past. The Headless Horseman, according to the old wives' tales of the Hudson Valley, is a Hessian solider who was killed in the...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What drops from the Headless Horseman?
As Ichabod Crane is pursued by the silent headless horseman, the girths of his saddle give way, and it drops onto the road to be trampled underfoot moments later. The headless horseman himself,...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Does Brom Bones marry Katrina?
In the penultimate paragraph of the main section of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," as he ties up the loose ends of the story after Ichabod Crane's sudden departure, Washington Irving informs the...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Who is the protagonist in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?
Ichabod Crane is the protagonist of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." However, his antagonist, Brom Van Brunt, known as Brom Bones, is arguably the hero of the story, despite most of the narrator's...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What genre did Washington Irving write?
Washington Irving was a prolific writer who composed works in several genres. He wrote biographies, political and satirical essays, travel narratives, and historical accounts. However, he is most...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Why does the Headless Horseman carry a pumpkin?
In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Ichabod Crane's hat is discovered near the bridge over the brook, next to the remains of a shattered pumpkin. The only thing Irving tells the reader about this...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
How does "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" end?
The main section of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” ends with Ichabod's Crane disappearance after being frightened by the Headless Horseman. He seems to have left his belongings behind without a...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Why is "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" important?
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is important for at least three reasons. First, Irving's fiction helped bring American literature to the fore. Until Irving's popular stories, readers in United States...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What is "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" based on?
There is a long list of potential antecedents that may have inspired the well-read Irving when composing his short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Tales of headless horseman stretch back to...
