The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow
The short story I have chosen to read by Washington Irving is "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." This story takes place in a little village on the Hudson River which by some is called Greensburgh, but which is more generally known as Tarry Town. The main character in the story, Ichabod Crane, who "tarried" in Sleepy Hollow came about for the purpose of instructing the children of the vicinity. The main point of the story began with the arrival of a Negro with an invitation to Ichabod to attend a party at the Van Tassel's mansion. After receiving the good news, Ichabod fixed up his best and only suit and borrowed a horse from Hans Van Ripper, in order to impress Mynheer Van Tassel's daughter, Katrina. He did so by dancing with her upon arriving at the party. During the dance, Brom Bones, who is a rival of Ichabod, sat brooding in the corner full of jealousy and sorely smitten with love. When the dance came to an end, Ichabod was attracted to some sager folks, who, along with old Van Tassel, were gossiping over former times about the war. All of these tales could not compare to the tales of ghosts and apparitions that had succeeded the conversation. The neighborhood of Sleepy Hollow is rich in leg
Gothocism is a term that describes the use in fiction of grotesque, gloomy settings and mysterious, violent, and supernatural occurrences. Washington Irving uses many examples of Gothocism in the story. Some examples are "From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its in habitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this sequestered glen has long been known by the name of Sleepy Hollow, and its rustic lads are called the Sleepy Hollow Boys throughout all the neighboring countries. A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere." Another example of Gothocism that Irving uses is when he talks about the Headless Horseman. He say's "It is said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannon ball, in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War, and who is ever an anon seen by the country folk hurrying along in the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind. The ghost rides forth to the seen of the battle in a nightly quest of his head; and that rushing speed with which he passed along the Hollow, like a midnight blast." These are only two of the many uses of Gothocism in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Stocked or stereotyped characters are character types that appear so often, that the reader immediately recognizes their nature. The two stocked or stereotyped characters I am going to talk about are: 1. Ichabod Crane, and 2. Katrina Van Tassel. To me Ichabod Crane is a typical thin and clumsy man. But Irving saw it a little differently by saying "He was tall, but exceedingly lank, w
Some common words found in the essay are:
Van Tassel's, Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane, Humorous Tone, Van Tassel, Headless Horseman, Revolutionary War, Brom Bone's, Washington Irving, Hollow Stocked, sleepy hollow, humorous tone, legend sleepy, legend sleepy hollow, van tassel's, van tassel, headless horseman, ichabod crane, washington irving, katrina van tassel, stereotyped characters, stocked stereotyped, stocked stereotyped characters,
Approximate Word count = 1103
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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