The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow Analysis
In Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” readers follow Ichabod Crane from his fascination in mysteries to him becoming one. Being a schoolmaster, Crane travels around town and interacts with all types of civilians. The story is intensified with detailed descriptions of the diverse settings in town. These descriptions reflect Ichabod Crane’s way of life, his greediness, and his competition with Brom Bones.
The portrayal of the schoolhouse in the story reflects Ichabod and how he is a citizen of Sleepy Hollow. The schoolhouse is “rudely constructed of logs...and partly patched with leaves of old copy books” inferring a unpolished structure (6). Crane is also described as unpolished and not put together because his clothes are baggy and he may be mistaken for a scarecrow. Moreover, the school is alone yet still in a “pleasant situation” (6). This is …show more content…
Coming from Connecticut, he is an outsider in the town and doesn’t fit in with the others. He is the only teacher in the town and never has a permanent place to stay. Fortunately, the townspeople let Ichabod stay at their houses, but only because he has gossip to share. Just like the schoolhouse, he makes it a pleasant situation by enjoying the company of women at these homes. However, without the company of others, of which it never happens in the book, Ichabod may feel empty inside. The result could be what happens after the schoolhouse is abandoned, it “fell to decay” (49).
Since Ichabod is extremely poor, it is no surprise that he reveals his greediness when exploring Katrina Van Tassel’s estate. Not only is Ichabod interested in the family’s wealth, but also the richness of the land. The home is “on the banks of the Hudson” making the land fertile for farming (Irving
The portrayal of the schoolhouse in the story reflects Ichabod and how he is a citizen of Sleepy Hollow. The schoolhouse is “rudely constructed of logs...and partly patched with leaves of old copy books” inferring a unpolished structure (6). Crane is also described as unpolished and not put together because his clothes are baggy and he may be mistaken for a scarecrow. Moreover, the school is alone yet still in a “pleasant situation” (6). This is …show more content…
Coming from Connecticut, he is an outsider in the town and doesn’t fit in with the others. He is the only teacher in the town and never has a permanent place to stay. Fortunately, the townspeople let Ichabod stay at their houses, but only because he has gossip to share. Just like the schoolhouse, he makes it a pleasant situation by enjoying the company of women at these homes. However, without the company of others, of which it never happens in the book, Ichabod may feel empty inside. The result could be what happens after the schoolhouse is abandoned, it “fell to decay” (49).
Since Ichabod is extremely poor, it is no surprise that he reveals his greediness when exploring Katrina Van Tassel’s estate. Not only is Ichabod interested in the family’s wealth, but also the richness of the land. The home is “on the banks of the Hudson” making the land fertile for farming (Irving