Elements of Suspense in
Irving’s Masterpiece: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
“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. To begin with, Washington Irving uses imagery to clearly illustrate the story’s development, immersing the reader into what is happening and causing them to feel suspense as they walk through various events together with Ichabod. For example, as Ichabod returns home from the party, Irving portrays his horrifying surroundings, describing Ichabod as a solitary figure in the “dead hush of
The original story by Washington Irving starts out in a small town of Sleepy Hollow. Irving paints an image of bountiful crops, beautiful scenery, and
If someone is afraid of ghost and goblins, they should not go to Sleepy Hollow! In the passage “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving, there are two characters named Brom Bones and Ichabod Crane. These men are very different from each other, though Ichabod and Brom think similar about some things.
Near Sleepy Hollow is a village called Tarrytown. It was settled many years ago by people from Holland. The village had a small school. And one teacher, named Ichabod Crane. Ichabod Crane was a good name for him, because he looked like a tall bird, a crane. He was tall and thin like a crane. His shoulders were small, joined two long arms. His head was small, too, and flat on top. He had big ears, large glassy green eyes and a long nose. One day in autumn Ichabod was asked to come to a big party at the Van Tassel home. He dressed in his best clothes. A farmer loaned him an old horse for the long trip to the party. After when he arrived Ichabod was happy dancing with Katrina as Brom looked at them with a jealous heart. The night passed. The
“The dominant spirit, however, that haunts this enchanted region, and seems to be commander-in-chief of all the powers of the air, is the apparition of a figure on horseback without a head.” Although the movie Sleepy Hollow is based upon the book The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, there are also distinctions which allow each to tell their own tale. Washington Irving’s short story inspired Tim Burton’s film but did not limit it. The foundations of the two are much the same but their story lines unfold diversely. Some of the similarities include the setting, characters, and plot points. Two of the many contradicting ideas are the character of Ichabod Crane and the conclusions. The similarities and differences of both accounts can be stated plainly
In the short story, Ichabod is a school teacher who lives in each of the surrounding families houses for one week at a time. He has a very humble personality and he also believes in superstition as he appreciates the beauty in nature around him. In the film, however, he is portrayed as a peculiar constable from New York City. He is also more scientific and a skeptic as opposed to having a meek personality has come to Sleepy Hollow in order to investigate the strange happenings. In the book, the character of Ichabod is described as comical looking and that someone might mistake him for a scarecrow.
This created a lot of conflict between the two men and tested their manhood. Ichabod Crane ends up getting chased out of town by the Headless Horsemen. This led to Brom Bones sweeping Katrina off of her feet and he being the one who ends up getting the girl.. In the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving uses imagery to create the idea that Ichabod is adored by the people of his community.
This essay is primarily focus is on how different the movie is portrayed compared to the book. Ichabod Crane is one of the most significant and leading characters of both story and film. Ichabod crane is presented entirely different in the story compared to the the film. In the story ichabod is an ordinary school teacher who comes to sleepy hollows to educate the
Over time, a change has occurred from the typical horror story to a violent and bloody legend. The original short story " The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow" is an example of a simple, yet mysterious fable in which Ichabod Crane acts as the protagonist. Ichabod becomes the victim of the feared headless horseman after believing the superstitious tales of this spirit preying in the night. The film that is supposedly based upon the tale provides a deceiving, yet compelling title of Sleepy Hollow, as one might assume that the film is a reenactment of the short story. The film and original tale differ in that the film has blood, gore and controversy while the story depicts a
The characterization of Ichabod Crane in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” written by Washington Irving is used to further the story and without some of his major characteristics the ending of the story would not have been possible. His aggressive nature, his inflated ego, his gullibility, and his tendency towards misogyny are what make the story possible.
In his short story, Irving, the author, demonstrates the “Selfish acts in Romance” throughout an intimate relationship by stating, “Ichabod Crane had a soft and foolish heart…; and it is not to be wondered at, that so tempting a morsel soon found favor in his eyes; more especially after he had visited her in her paternal mansion” (Irving 21). He goes on to demonstrate Ichabod’s greediness and confusion in his relationship. In “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow”, Washington Irving’s short story of Ichabod Crane’s pursuit to win over Katrina Van Tassel’s heart and money which symbolizes Irving’s theory of selfishness throughout society. Ichabod is already counting how he thinks that one day he will get everything he wants. And that he is ready to turn his back on
Washington Irving’s short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” was adapted into a movie titled “Sleepy Hollow” directed by Tim Burton nearly two centuries after the original publication. When the story was adapted as a film, several extensive changes were made. A short story easily read in one sitting was turned into a nearly two-hour thriller, mystery, and horror movie by incorporating new details and modifying the original version of the story. The short story relates the failed courtship of Katrina Van Tassel by Ichabod Crane. His courtship is cut short by the classic romance antagonist-the bigger, stronger, and better looking Broom Bones. Ichabod wishes to marry Katrina because of her beauty but also because of the wealthy inheritance
One of the main values looked at in Irving’s short story is the difference between the natural and supernatural. There is a huge contrast throughout the story of this and this mainly has to do with the setting. Irving looks at the natural setting of Sleepy Hollow compared to the supernatural thoughts of the residents. “… Or tapping of a woodpecker, is almost the only sound that every breaks in upon the uniform of tranquillity.” (Irving, 1820) and “… That holds a spell over the minds of the good people.” (Irving, 1820) are both two quotes that show the contrast between the natural and supernatural. With out both aspects it would change dramatically the setting, characters and plot of the story. Similarly to the themes in Burton’s adaption of Sleepy Hollow the values are much darker and eerie compared with those in Irving’s original. One thing both versions have in common is the value of the difference between supernatural and natural. Although it is looked at in a different way Burton still has it reoccurring throughout the film. In the film the whole idea and the actually reality of the headless horseman is all very supernatural and not very realistic although the rest of the movie has more of a natural feel to it. The setting is used to show the supernatural and natural values, as without the particular atmosphere that Burton has created it would not come across of
In the town of Sleepy Hollow, we find Ichabod Crane, the protagonist, who begins to notice the daughter of the richest man in town, Katrina. He decides to pursue a relationship with Katrina. However, this decision starts trouble with Katrina’s other suitor, Abraham "Brom" Van Brunt. There is a party at Katrina’s house later, she breaks up with Ichabod. Heartbroken Ichabod makes his way home when he is interrupted by the Headless Horseman. The next day, Ichabod has disappeared and no one knows what happened to him. Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a prototype for the modern-day film.
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”.
Ichabod Crane is trying to look his finest to impress his “soul mate” Katrina Van Tassel in the short story, “The Legends of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. In the beginning the story it starts off with a description of how beautiful Ichabod thinks Katrina is. Irving describes Katrina as, “ ….Universally famed, but not merely for her beauty” (Irving 4). Ichabod is head over heels for Katrina he think of her as a goddess and he must have her. Later on Ichabod's gets invited to Katrina’s family party and he then goes all out to impress her with his appearance. Irving states, “The gallant Ichabod now spent at last an extra half hour at his toilet, brushing and furbishing up his best…” (Irving 6). Ichabod is really trying to impress Katrina and make a good impression of himself. When everything was going just perfect then came along Brom Bones. Brom Bones is a strong handsome man who is pretty much a lady killer. Irving describes Brom Bones as, “ He was broad-shouldered, with short curly black hair, and a bluff but not unpleasant countenance, having a mingled air of fun and arrogance”(Irving 6). From his Herculean frame, he had received the nickname of "Brom Bones.” He was famed for great skill in horsemanship; he was foremost at all races and cockfights; and, with the ascendancy which bodily strength acquires in rustic life, was the umpire in all disputes. He was always ready for either a fight or a frolic, but had more