How Does Washington Irving's Use Of Landscape
Washington Irving is the first American writer per se. His compilation of short stories, titled The Sketch Book (1819) was a turning point in American literature, becoming extremely popular and making sketches and tales fashionable. Despite having been a highly influential writer Iriving has also been considered as an obstacle to the development of American Literature, being severely criticised on his use of many descriptions and lack of dialogue. However, the use of this descriptive device has served its purpose thoroughly. The aim of this essay is to explore descriptions of landscape in one of his short stories found in this collection, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, thus proving how landscape is important to create atmosphere, transmit emotions, and reflect the characters’ personalities.
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Firstly, landscape builds the general mood of the story.
The narrator beings the story by providing an exhaustive depiction of the village of Sleepy Hollow and its surroundings. Emphasis is made on the fact that “A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere” (Irving 1819, 6) which sets the tone of the story and indicates to the reader how this is a mysterious place where anything could happen – and not too shortly after the ghost of the Headless Horseman is introduced.
Additionally, emotions are transmitted through the description of landscape in the story. It can be observed how Ichabod becomes frightened when he is out in the streets throughout the novel. In such instances, the portrayal of the landscape is highly remarkable, since it is one of the elements that are used to transmit his emotions. “Every sound of nature, at that witching hour, fluttered his excited imagination” (Irving 1819, 12) demonstrates how Ichabod is affected by the landscape, which brings him to imagine
things.
Furthermore, landscape is also used to show the characters’ personalities. Sleepy Hollow is described as a still and quiet place in “there is a little valley, or rather lap of land, among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world” (Irving 1819, 6), and metaphorically so are its inhabitants. The citizens of the village refuse to realise the horrors of the war, which leaves them in a dream-like state where they are unable to move forwards and face the cruel reality of the consequences the war has brought about. They would rather remain unchanged and occupy their minds with ghost stories. Such a behaviour leads them to become a part of the landscape themselves (Rubin-Dorsky 1985, 402). This is perfectly reflected in Irving’s description of the stillness in Sleepy Hollow.
All in all, it can be concluded that landscape serves plenty of purposes in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Contrary to some critics’ beliefs, it creates the appropriate mood, it portrays emotions, and it reflects the characters’ nature.
Firstly, landscape builds the general mood of the story.
The narrator beings the story by providing an exhaustive depiction of the village of Sleepy Hollow and its surroundings. Emphasis is made on the fact that “A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere” (Irving 1819, 6) which sets the tone of the story and indicates to the reader how this is a mysterious place where anything could happen – and not too shortly after the ghost of the Headless Horseman is introduced.
Additionally, emotions are transmitted through the description of landscape in the story. It can be observed how Ichabod becomes frightened when he is out in the streets throughout the novel. In such instances, the portrayal of the landscape is highly remarkable, since it is one of the elements that are used to transmit his emotions. “Every sound of nature, at that witching hour, fluttered his excited imagination” (Irving 1819, 12) demonstrates how Ichabod is affected by the landscape, which brings him to imagine
things.
Furthermore, landscape is also used to show the characters’ personalities. Sleepy Hollow is described as a still and quiet place in “there is a little valley, or rather lap of land, among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world” (Irving 1819, 6), and metaphorically so are its inhabitants. The citizens of the village refuse to realise the horrors of the war, which leaves them in a dream-like state where they are unable to move forwards and face the cruel reality of the consequences the war has brought about. They would rather remain unchanged and occupy their minds with ghost stories. Such a behaviour leads them to become a part of the landscape themselves (Rubin-Dorsky 1985, 402). This is perfectly reflected in Irving’s description of the stillness in Sleepy Hollow.
All in all, it can be concluded that landscape serves plenty of purposes in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Contrary to some critics’ beliefs, it creates the appropriate mood, it portrays emotions, and it reflects the characters’ nature.