“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” follows the story of Ichabod Crane, a lanky and superstitious schoolteacher, who arrives in the quaint village of Sleepy Hollow. He becomes enamored with the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel and vies for her hand against the brawny Brom Bones.
One spooky night, as Ichabod is riding home, he encounters the legendary Headless Horseman. This leads to a thrilling chase through the dark woods that leaves Ichabod’s fate shrouded in mystery.
This is a story that your students are going to LOVE reading and digging in to. Here are some things to keep in mind when you teach The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Be sure to also check out this mini unit on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow!
Dark Romanticism and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a classic example of Dark Romanticism. This is a literary movement that delves into the darker aspects of human nature and the supernatural. The story is steeped in supernatural elements, most notably the Headless Horseman, a ghostly figure said to haunt the town. This supernatural presence instills a sense of fear. It creates uncertainty throughout the story. Both the characters and readers are left questioning what is real and what is imagined.
Ichabod Crane, the protagonist, is depicted as a character with various flaws and insecurities. His obsession with wealth and status, along with his fear of the unknown, drives much of the narrative. This exploration of the human psyche reflects the Dark Romantic theme of inner turmoil, as Ichabod’s desires and fears ultimately lead to his downfall. His experience shows how inner conflicts can shape one’s perception of reality, often leading to a tragic end.
Choosing the Perfect Version
The original text is (of course) wonderful. However, the language can be daunting for some students and the 41-page length can take a while as well. You can also use a great audiobook to accompany it HERE and HERE
This adapted 12-page version is another fantastic option! It modernizes the language as well as shortening it. The only downside with this is there is no audio support.
Hessian Soldiers in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Hessian soldiers were German troops hired as mercenaries by the British during the American Revolutionary War. Renowned for their discipline, training, and combat experience, these soldiers were valuable assets to the British military. However, in the American colonies, the Hessians were often vilified as ruthless mercenaries. They were seen as foreign invaders hired to do the king’s dirty work. The term “Hessian” became a slur, used to paint these soldiers as uncivilized and dangerous.
In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the Headless Horseman is said to be the ghost of a Hessian soldier who lost his head during the Revolutionary War. According to the legend within the story, this ghost continues to roam the countryside seeking revenge.
Understanding how the people of the time viewed Hessians only adds to the dread they felt about this ghost. The idea of a vengeful spirit, already feared because of its association with the hated Hessians, prowling around at night, searching for its lost head, deepens the story’s sense of terror and suspense.
Satire in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Be sure to point out that Irving loved to write in satire. So, in this story, none of the characters are “good people”. Ichabod is solely focused on gaining wealth and status. He fixates on Katrina because of all the land and wealth that will come with marrying her.
And he’s spineless.
“How often did he shrink with curdling awe at the sound of his own steps on the frosty crust beneath his feet; and dread to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him! And how often was he thrown into complete dismay by some rushing blast, howling among the trees, in the idea that it was the Galloping Hessian on one of his nightly scourings!”- Washington Irving
Brom Bones is a bully who relentlessly torments Ichabod while trying to win Katrina’s hand. In fact, the story alludes that Brom Bones may have been playing yet another prank on Ichabod. Pretending to be the Headless Horseman and chased him out of town. Leaving the way wide open to marry Katrina a few weeks later.
Creative Projects to Try
While you can always have your students write an analytical essay, you can also have a lot of fun with this story and try some creative projects! Such as:
- Comparing with the Disney animated video
- Check out how The Hollow podcast takes a modern twist on the story and challenge students to do something similar
- The headless horseman was inspired by the Celtic mythical creature The Dullahan. Try having students reimagine a new tale featuring a creepy mythical creature from another culture!
- It also has all the feels of an urban legend. This is the perfect time to research another local legend or ghost story.
Final Thoughts on Teaching The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
This is typically considered a Dark Romantic story due to the spooky atmosphere and ghostly figure. There are elements of satire here that also make it fun to poke at the characters. This is a story that offers many layers for your students to dig in to.
There is literary analysis options abounding, but you can also have so many fun projects as well!
With this product, you can have a lot of fun and creativity teaching “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”! Including close reads, one pager activities, and fun projects!
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