Ichabod Crane and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Essay

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.

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,

The townspeople looked upon Ichabod as a foreigner and responded with opposition to his notions. For example, almost immediately upon his arrival, he took a dead corpse and performed an autopsy, something that was unheard of during this time period. He remained dedicated to his work, but had a hostile, almost mysterious way about him.

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

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.

Whether in the form of a living person or a fictional character from a book or movie, heroes are prevalent in everyone's life. The typical view of a hero is someone who fights crime or saves people from mortal peril, but the true definition of a hero is a person of distinguished courage admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is the true definition of hero. Although he wasn't seen as a hero during the time the book took place, Atticus Finch is considered to be one of the most heroic figures in American Literature because of his courage, intelligence, and sense of what is right and what is wrong.

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.

Being a hero does not always mean wearing capes and fighting villains during the dark hours of the night, it means so much more as Susanna Barlow, in the article “Understanding the Hero Archetype”, explains. In the novel Sleeping Freshman Never Lie by David Lubar and in the movie The Wizard of Oz, Scott and Dorothy fall upon two incredible journeys to becoming true heroes. Throughout their remarkable journeys, Scott Hudson and Dorothy Gale experience similar difficulties, obstacles, lessons, and characteristics. These experiences demonstrate how the obstacles and lessons they suffer through teach both characters very important lessons in becoming a hero. Being a true hero requires kindness, generosity, strength,

Ichabod crane is tall and lanky. He is a teacher and can be scared very easily. Unlike Brom Bones Ichabod Crane was very smart, but Brom Bones was uneducated. Also, Ichabod Crane is not originally from Sleepy Hollow, but Brom Bones is.

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

In the novel ‘Heroes’ it is shown that there is no such thing as a real hero, because everyone has a weakness, Cormier uses Larry LaSalle, Francis Cassavannt and the veterans as a way to convey this message. The protagonist Francis is portrayed as having both heroic and cowardly personality; this forces the reader to consider what makes a real hero. To some people a hero might be someone with great strength or ability. Perhaps someone admired for their great achievements or great qualities. But in this case it is someone who is admired for their great courage and nobility a man in contrast to Francis Cassavant.

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

Throughout literature, the idea of the hero has changed to represent a number of differing. Heroes were originally personified as being an individual who were not bound by limitations, as well as demonstrating an archetypical sense of moral judgment. Later on, contrasting adaptations of heroes started to form in which the hero of a story would typically exhibit traits that would closely resemble the limitations and troubles that ordinary people faced. For the most part, a contemporary “hero” is simply looked at as the protagonist in the story. Acclaimed heroes in literature, such as Beowulf and Hamlet, when compared to one another can give a person a better sense of the changes in the hero. Although they both are the main characters

Ichabod’s personality does not quite relate precisely from the book to the movie. He is a self-assured smart man in the story that always knows what he is doing. Unlike his written character, Burton’s Ichabod faints frequently and never seems to know what he is doing. Ichabod Crane is two different people in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Sleepy Hollow.

Heroism is a word that is difficult to define. Anyone can be considered a hero; it could be someone with special abilities, flying around in a cape and saving the world. A hero could also be an ordinary person, like a firefighter, risking their lives to save people from a burning building. But just because someone does something daring, doesn’t mean they are a hero. A hero must be selfless, courageous, and clever. In the short story, “A Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane, the theme what it means to be an american hero is explored. Fred Collins is a member of a company who is trapped in the middle of an intense battle. Thirsty, Collins escapes from safety, and makes a break for a well across the battlefield, returning with the water, only for it to be spilled. Fred Collins, a soldier from the story “A Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane, is not an American Hero because he behaved foolishly and irrationally, he was not admired for his actions, and he only did it out of spite or to prove a point.