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The Role Of Ghost Stories In Washington Irving's The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow

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Ghost stories have always been a favorite genre of novel to many people around the world. The thrill of a racing heart produces endorphins that give the human body an epic rush. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving is no exception as it leaves readers searching for answers on the whereabouts of Ichabod Crane. After his mysterious disappearance, many rumors spread about the events surrounding the location of Ichabod. The story of Ichabod’s encounter with the Headless Horseman and its origin as well as the involvement and motives of others proves to be an play an interesting role in this tale. After his horse returns back to its master without Ichabod, Hans Van Ripper conducts a search for Ichabod where Ichabod’s hat and saddle …show more content…

Brom Bones, Ichabod’s rival went out of his way to embarrass and ridicule Ichabod. When it came a common love interest named Katrina, Brom wants to win her affection, “Brom took all opportunities of turning him into ridicule in presence of his mistress, and had a scoundrel dog whom he taught to whine in the most ludicrous manner, and introduced as a rival of Ichabod’s, to instruct her in psalmody” (cite). Brom’s insecurity about his chances of winning the affection of Katrina gives him a perfect motive to want to make Ichabod disappear. Was he somehow involved in Ichabod’s encounter with the Headless Horseman? Brom himself boasts about an encounter that he had with the Horseman, thus audiences could be led to believe that Brom had made an arrangement with the Horseman in order to vanquish Ichabod and win Katrina for himself. Despite the reliability of the narrator, the origin of the story and the motive of others, The Headless Horseman remains a chilling tale that has been passed down from generation to generation. Washington Irving provided an early gothic approach to literature that allowed societies to come to the conclusion that there is more to literature than just serious

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Ichabod Crane and Brom Bones are two, extremely different characters. Both of the characters’ names represented them well; Ichabod Crane was tall and lanky, while Brom Bones was muscular and strong. Ichabod was an educated being and also apprehensive. Unlike Bones who was arrogant, upfront, and more street-smart than book-smart. A few things that contrasted between the actions of both of them is that Ichabod didn’t know how to ride a horse very well, he taught music, was a school teacher, he helped people all around the town with their farms, and had to work hard for his goals.

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a famous story made into a movie by Disney. The main character is Ichabod Crane. The original story was claimed to be found among the belongings of Diedrich Knickerbocker by Washington Irving. There are similarities and differences (like all books and movies) from the writing to the Disney movie.

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Could you imagine being chased by a headless man riding on a horse? “Sleepy Hollow” is about Ichabod Crane, a schoolmaster in the small town of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod likes a girl named Katrina Van Tassel, but the only thing in his way is Brom Bones. The two versions of “Sleepy Hollow” incorporate many similarities and differences.

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I meant that! There isn’t a tribe for [Ralph] anymore!’” (163). Instead of coming to his senses, Jack uses Piggy’s death as inspiration to gain total control of the island and its inhabitants and justifies it by claiming that Piggy and Ralph should never have questioned his

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“Rip Van Winkle” and the Emergence of an American Mythology. By Danise Bachman Rip van winkle in indeed a classic piece of American mythology. Washington Irving set this story in the past and filled it with exaggerated and sometimes, strange characters. It also features a mysterious and magical occurrence that put the main character to sleep for twenty years!

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After the boys catch their first glimpse at what they imagined was the beast, Jack calls his own assembly to address the issue. As Jack leads his own meeting instead of Ralph, he immediately exerts this new authority in an attempt to overthrow Ralph as chief, exclaiming, “He’s like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isn 't a proper chief,” (Golding 92).

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When Ralph declares Jack the head of hunters, Jack takes this power to another level of jealousy and greed and becomes savage. After he kills his first pig he puts blood on his face and creates a mask. Jack's hunters immediately follow his footsteps creating what appears to be an army with Jack as the general. Having an army eventually leads to having a war which happens towards the end of the book. This represents a futuristic nuclear war which is happening while the boys are stranded on the island.

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Washington Irving’s, The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. is a collection of thirty-four of his essays and short stories. Attributed to the fictional Dutch historian character, Diedrich Knickerbocker, are two of Irving’s most popular stories, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Rip Van Winkle is the story of a Dutch villager, living at the foot of the Catskill mountains before and after the American Revolutionary War. Van Winkle is genuinely loved by the people of his village, especially by the children whom he tells ghost stories to, plays with, and gives toys. However, this simple, easy-going man has one great error in his character: he is incredibly lazy, despising work in all forms.

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Irving's use of the supernatural theme is investigative and makes for a great story but lacks certainty. Make note of Brom and the fact that he laughs every time the abduction is mentioned. Also the narrator never really addresses the sadness of the townspeople. It seems like they were unaffected and will continue their usual routine. The people of sleepy hollow are never

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The romanticism was the response to the Industrial Age. That movement began in America from 1820 ’s to 1870’s. Washington Irving was part of that movement which began in America after Revolutionary War. They tried to separate them from the rest of the world and create a country as a nation. They used their chance of individuality and creativity, and they addressed economic social and many other concerns by their writings.

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Lastly, Jack is known as the rebel of the story who disagrees with the leaders, and is pure evil from middle to end. Although Jack is evil, his bad character trait ensures his survival and alliance with the boys. The first example of when Jack’s evilness is shown in the story is when Jack hunts the pig and puts its head on a stick, the line says “ Jack held the head up and jammed the soft throat down on the pointed end of the stick which pierced through into the mouth. He stood back and the head hung there, a little blood dribbling down the stick” ( Golding, 150). This shows Jack’s evilness because instead of fearing the beast he is offering him the head of the pig that he just brutally murdered.

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One of the times Jack lets the fire go out a ship comes by. Ralph is enraged that Jack didn’t keep the fire going. Piggy is enraged as well. Piggy yells “You and your blood, Jack Merridew! You and your hunting!

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