Considered the first professional, distinguished author in the United States, Washington Irving helped gain international respect for American literature through his short stories, biographies, and histories. During the 19th century, he undertook the persona of Geoffrey Crayon and published a collection of 34 pieces of writing titled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon. One of the most popular short stories amongst this collection, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is noted for its action, adventure, romance, horror, and even comedy. Ichabod Crane, the protagonist of the story, is an awkward schoolteacher living in the eerie town of Sleepy Hollow, which is known for its daunting atmosphere that spooks its inhabitants and visitors. Towards the end
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He was so obsessed with marrying Katrina and acquiring her family’s farm for his own benefit that he became carried away. He fantasizes about his prosperous future so frequently that he is unable to imagine failing; therefore, he does not make the life changes that are necessary in order for him to be a suitable partner for Katrina. Because of this, Katrina rejects Crane, and he starts on his way home down a dark and quiet path. As he rides horseback into the night, “all the stories of ghosts and goblins that he had heard in the afternoon, now came crowding upon his recollection” (184). After time, Crane believes he is being followed, and eventually chased, by the notorious Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. The ghost supposedly hunts Crane down and knocks him off his horse by throwing his decapitated head at the teacher. The following day, all that is found on the premises of the chase was “the hat of the unfortunate Ichabod, and close behind it a shattered pumpkin,” (189) which implies that the situation is not a supernatural occurrence. This entire scene is actually a prank pulled by Katrina’s second suitor and Crane’s rival, Brom Bones. Crane’s remarkable enjoyment of ghost stories and mysterious tales, which he believes in due to his strong imagination, makes him susceptible to Bones’s prank. If he had not been so selfish in regards to his intentions with Katrina and so passionate with his imagination, Crane may not have suffered such a tragic
He was so obsessed with marrying Katrina and acquiring her family’s farm for his own benefit that he became carried away. He fantasizes about his prosperous future so frequently that he is unable to imagine failing; therefore, he does not make the life changes that are necessary in order for him to be a suitable partner for Katrina. Because of this, Katrina rejects Crane, and he starts on his way home down a dark and quiet path. As he rides horseback into the night, “all the stories of ghosts and goblins that he had heard in the afternoon, now came crowding upon his recollection” (184). After time, Crane believes he is being followed, and eventually chased, by the notorious Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. The ghost supposedly hunts Crane down and knocks him off his horse by throwing his decapitated head at the teacher. The following day, all that is found on the premises of the chase was “the hat of the unfortunate Ichabod, and close behind it a shattered pumpkin,” (189) which implies that the situation is not a supernatural occurrence. This entire scene is actually a prank pulled by Katrina’s second suitor and Crane’s rival, Brom Bones. Crane’s remarkable enjoyment of ghost stories and mysterious tales, which he believes in due to his strong imagination, makes him susceptible to Bones’s prank. If he had not been so selfish in regards to his intentions with Katrina and so passionate with his imagination, Crane may not have suffered such a tragic