Analysis Of Ichabod Crane 's ' Sleepy Hollow '

Unlike “The Tell-Tale Heart”, ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ plot is built around the main theme of superstition. Ichabod tends to be horrified and terrified with the Headless horseman stories. ‘Irving depicts a strong, controversial understanding between the supernatural superstitions the townspeople believed and the natural Sleepy Hollow setting ‘(Hoffman, 425). Despite the story describing in details the natural setting such as trees and birds of the area, there is also a vibrant understanding of privileging supernatural ideas. For instance, Irving believes that it is simply Brom Bones in disguise when finally, the headless horseman appeared.

(Page 1) “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” has different tones throughout the story. At the beginning the tone is somnolent yet peaceful, then the tone gets spooky slightly sarcastic, humorous, mocking and surreal.

Washington Irving’s, the author of the story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, uses imagery throughout the story to interpret the setting and mood of the story. At the beginning of the story, Erving uses suspenseful imagery to describe the location of the valley that he lives in as one of the quietest places on earth . He ackno in the story “Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles down the road, there is a little valley or lap of land among the hills, which is one of the quietest places in the world.” The main character Ichabod Crane is a school teacher, Erving the author uses imagery in such a way to give the readers the full effect of what his classroom looks like. “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,” he says this in such a way that the reader can imagine the school room as if they were there and it adds suspense to the rest of the story. Washington Irving set the mood of thrilling suspense and the spooky setting of a quiet town by using imagery throughout his story of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”.

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is short story of speculative fiction written by Washington Irving, published in 1820. It follows the journey of Ichabod Crane and Brom Bones in their attempt to win over Katrina Van Tassel. Many adaptions have been made of Irving’s original story with one of the most known being “Sleepy Hollow” a 1999 American horror film directed by Tim Burton. The movie follows a different but similar plot to the original story with the murders of the headless horseman being the main focus of the movie. In both versions it can be clearly seen how the setting has a huge impact on all aspects of the book and film particularly the themes, values and characterisation.

In the story, Brom Bones, although he is not the main character of the story, represents more of the American Romantic hero than Ichabod Crane. Brom Bones demonstrates this role as a hero since he is physically fit and innocent in mind since he is not formally educated. The American Romantics valued people that did not have a formal education and were pure in mind. Conversely, Ichabod Crane demonstrates many values that were not cherished by the American Romantics. Ichabod Crane was a teacher and had a higher education that the American Romantics appreciated. He also did not have a higher purpose that he believed in, and was not innocent. This lack of innocence can be seen with the maxim Ichabod believed in, “spare the rod and spoil the child” (Irving, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”). This quote focuses on his teaching style, where he was not a gentle person to children, but rather a harsh teacher. Moreover, he would go to live in the homes of the students “who happened to have pretty sisters, or good housewives for mothers” (Irving, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”). Ichabod does not have the innocence or mentality that help to define an American Romantic hero, which is especially seen in how he does not appreciate nature as much as the American Romantics would. Rather than turning away from civilization and moving towards a deep inspiration and appreciation of nature, Ichabod embraces society. In this story, Ichabod appreciates Sleepy Hollow and wishes to stay there, thinking positively of the houses and luxuries that some of the people have. This is best demonstrated when Irving states, “When he entered the house, the conquest of his heart was complete” (Irving, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”). The quote explains how Ichabod appreciates the house that he is in and does not want to leave such a place. Nature,

Katrina Van Tassel was the girl Ichabod fell in love with in the story. She was described as "a blossoming lass of eighteen; plump as a partridge; ripe and melting and rosy-cheeked" She was the girl that all of the young men were fond of. In the story she does not play an important part; she is mainly known for her flirtatiousness toward the men around her and for being a wealthy, spoiled farmer's daughter. But,

One dark and lonely night, after a dance at the Van Tassel estate, Ichabod attempted to travel home. On his old horse, Gunpowder, he slowly made his way through the dark woods that crossed his path. Unfortunately, appearing from the dark shadows came a headless figure, which frightened Ichabod. In an attempt to escape, he ran to the covered bridge where the horseman was supposed to disappear into a burst of fire. Unfortunately, the figure flung its pumpkin head at Ichabod, knocking him off his horse and knocking him unconscious state that the next day, all that remained was a smashed pumpkin. Ichabod had disappeared. The story leaves you guessing what really happened. Did Ichabod run away, or did the Haunted Horseman kill him? Or was it Brom Bones, who married Katrina shortly after his opponent?s disappearance, and laughed every time there was mention of the pumpkin.

Sleepy Hollow is a gothic horror film directed by Tim Burton in 1999. It tells the story of when Ichabod Crane is sent to the isolated town of Sleepy Hollow to solve the mystery of the Headless Horseman. The isolated gloomy setting for example, when Ichabod Crane enters the town, the film techniques such as music and lighting such as when the Headless Horseman appears combined with characters that have supernatural powers including Catrina and Lady Van Tassel reinforces the idea that Sleepy Hollow is a gothic horror film.

Many connections to famous books or movies can be made to the Headless Horseman or the "Heissan" as he is referred to many times in the original "Sleepy Hollow". The Headless Horseman has a few key traits: engimatic, supernatural, and terror raising/feared. Only a few have ever come face to face with the Horseman, the nemesis of Ichabod Crane (main character) Brom Van Brunt has a supposed run in with the horseman and lives to tell the tale, while the village elders go off of stories. When his name is spoken townsfolk quiver at the stories and terror brought about by the mistery of the supernatural. This horseman is no ordinary horseman, he frightens the whole town, patrolling the church grounds where he is supposedly buried, he makes quick work of anyone who dares go near.

Katrina was in deep regret that she never confessed her feelings to Ichabod. The last time she saw Ichabod was at her party where she had treated him poorly. That night, Katrina had just learned that Brom Bones was mad at her for associating herself with Ichabod.

Ichabod loved marvellous things, and equally loved deciphering it. These had both grown because of the region he was currently staying in.No tale was too big or crazy for him to digest. After the school day ended, he enjoyed to relax on the riverbed of clover that bordered the brook that traveled by his schoolhouse. There he would read over Mather’s book, until it got to dark out for him to see the words. As he would stroll home to the place he was being quartered, every little noise of a plant or animal would catch his attention. Some of these were the moan of the

“In the dark shadow of the grove… [Ichabod] beheld something huge, misshapen, black and towering...up in the gloom...some gigantic monster” and “summoning up, [from his trembling body] a show of courage...he demanded in stammering accents- ‘Who are you?’”. In the short story, the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, Washington Irving, tells the adventures of a schoolteacher, Ichabod Crane, in the haunted town of Sleepy Hollow. There, he pursues the local beauty, Katrina van Tassel, competing with the town’s rowdy prankster, Brom Bones. As the plot intensifies, Ichabod’s superstition eventually leads to his downfall when he is chased by the legendary ghost of the Headless Horseman in a terrifying and vivid scene after a party at Katrina’s house. The next day, Ichabod has disappeared, his fate unknown. Throughout the story, Irving creates suspense with the use of imagery to build up a frightening scene in the reader’s mind and ambiguity to make them anxious as they feel a sense of mysteriousness as to what really happened.

These qualities are displayed in Ichabod’s first scene when he is in New York and talking to his superiors after arresting a man, “I beg pardon. But why am I the only one who can see that to solve crimes, we must use our brains, assisted by reason, using up-to-date scientific techniques?” During this scene he is in court arguing with the judge as he does not agree with how they imprison people without evidence and believes that they have to adopt the latest techniques to solve crimes. In this scene Burton uses a close up shot to capture the look on Ichabod face as he is fighting for what is morally right and is not frightened by the repercussions. He also positions the judge higher up than Ichabod to show that he is more powerful and the judge’s voice is loud to show that he is of authority and could decide what happens to Ichabod. Ichabod starts out as a coward as he is scared of blood and does not believe the cries of the townspeople about the horseman but as the story goes on he develops courage and tries to stop the horseman and this is why he is good. He comes to the rescue of Katrina van Tassel when she is kidnapped by Lady van Tassel even though he knows he has to stop the Horseman from getting her and the Horseman being considerably stronger than

Any type of hero should be courageous and generally caring of others, but Ichabod Crane is neither of these things. “Ichabod…knew two emotions, and two only. His were fear, and ambition” (Hoffman). He is extremely cowardly in many aspects and the ambition comes from his overwhelming and extravagant greed. Ichabod is

Katrina initiates to uphold her agency by gaining Ichabod’s affections through her flirtatious conduct which parallels with the women of town who are looked upon by Ichabod due to their storytelling skills. The narrator uses diction to initially elicit Katrina as a modern independent lady who