the legend of hollow story by washington irving

This story really takes you back in time. “The common people regarded it with a mixture of respect and superstition, partly out of sympathy for the fate of its ill-starred namesake, and partly from the tales of strange sights and doleful lamentations told concerning it.”- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Legend tells that it is the tree which the spy, Major John Andre hung from and his spirit still haunts it. One of those details is when Ichabod is walking home and he comes across this incredibly eerie tree. My favorite part of Irving’s short tale are the little details from the Revolutionary War. For my Disney fans, he is very similar to Gaston! These two opponents are definitely quite the opposite from one another. Brom Bones on the other hand, is a typical courageous and obnoxious character. Ichabod Crane is not exactly humble but is a bit odd. In fact, the majority of the book focuses on descriptions. This is such an unbelievably fun read! Irving provides such wonderful descriptions with amazing detail, that you can very vividly imagine Sleepy Hollow and all the characters. Did he run away or was he taken by the Headless Horseman?

After that night Ichabod is never seen or heard from again. The ghost chases Ichabod and eventually throws his severed head at Ichabod. The Headless Horseman was believed to be the ghost of a Hessian soldier from an unnamed battle of the Revolutionary War. Soon he comes face to face with the Headless Horseman. As he heads home, he begins to feel tense and jumpy at all the noises in the fall evening.

At the end of the night, Katrina refuses Ichabod and he goes home distraught. Ichabod dances with Katrina, drinks and listens to ghosts stories. However, one night there is party at the Van Tassel home. Brom Bones plays a series of pranks on Ichabod. Both of them begin competing for her hand. Abraham Van Brunt, “Brom Bones”, the town hero, is also vying for Katrina’s hand.

He is also very superstitious! He discovers that the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel is the only daughter and heiress of a wealthy farmer and tries to woo her. Ichabod Crane is the schoolmaster and is described as tall and lanky. In Tarry Town, there is a glen called Sleepy Hollow. The story takes place in 1790, in a settlement called Tarry Town. However, I feel weird warning you about spoilers since this is an almost-200 year old tale. I would like to note that there are spoilers ahead. This was my book club’s second selection for October! We loved the descriptions and themes that really channel the Halloween spirit. It is the short story written by Washington Irving and first published in 1820. Everyone knows the story of Sleepy Hollow, or will immediately recognize the name.

The legend of hollow story by washington irving