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The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow Analysis Essay

763 Words4 Pages

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Analysis “…The body of the trooper, having been buried in the churchyard, the ghost rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head… (Page 18). Washington Irving draws readers into his short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” by exploring the life of Ichabod Crane, an odd schoolteacher who strived to impress women. While terrified of ghosts and superstitions, especially that of the Headless Horseman roaming the area, Ichabod disappears leaving townsfolk wondering if the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow has struck again. Irving brings the legend to life by focusing on setting, providing ambiguities, and illustrating imagery. The story takes place in a small valley near the Hudson River. “…There is a little valley, or rather lap of land, among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world” (Page 16). Irving later emphasizes that the stillness of this valley seems eerie. People who visit this place are somehow captured by an inescapable spell. “The whole neighborhood abounds with local tales, haunted spots, and twilight superstitions; stars shoot and meteors …show more content…

Irving portrayed Ichabod Crane as “an odd mixture of small shrewdness and simple credulity” (Page 22). He was an unusual man who makes the perfect main character. His physical appearance is depicted as well. “His head was small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes, and a long snipe nose…” (Page 19). Readers can clearly envision his appearance as the most outlandish person in all of Sleepy Hollow. His schoolhouse was peculiar as well. “His schoolhouse was a low building of one large room, rudely constructed of logs; the windows partly glazed, and partly patched with leaves of old copybooks” (Page 19). Visualizing the school is effortless. Irving uses language that paints a picture into the reader’s mind. Imagery is imperative in this legend

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