Washington Irving's The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow

“Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them” (Irving). During his time in the 1800’s there were many major events happening in America. There were many conflicts such as the War of 1812, the Missouri Compromise, Trail of Tears, and the Mexican-American War. America was growing very fast, Thomas Jefferson purchased Louisiana from Napoleon in 1803, the southern states were large crop growers, the north was very industrial, and seventeen new states were added. There were many political movements such as women’s rights, women at the time were inferior to men and could not vote. The abolition of slavery, education reform, the temperance movement were happening. There were many art movements happening such as romanticism and the realism movements. Media during the 1800’s consisted of signal lamps, newspapers, and the electric telegraph made it possible to transmit information farther and to more people at once than ever before. One of the most influential writers of this time was Washington Irving, and his

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow tells the story of Ichabod Crane and his attempt to win the heart of Katrina Van Tassel. Ichabod comes to Sleepy Hollow, New York, from his home state of Connecticut, to be the schoolmaster of the village. Sleepy Hollow is a small, quiet town which is said to be under some kind of enchantment. All of the residents move differently, daydream, and are prone to believe in the supernatural. The most famous supernatural phenomenon is the ghost of the Headless Horseman which is seen riding by the church. He tries to pursue Katrina at a party at the Van Tassel farm but ends up crestfallen. He walks home in an eerie and dark and he sees the Headless Horseman next to the church. He runs to the bridge but the Headless Horseman follows. The next day Ichabod