The Legend of

The housewives whose husbands lingered about the

village tavern gave Tarry Town its name.

1. How did Tarry Town get its name?

Sleepy Hollow was called that because it was

so quiet and tranquil that it lulled people to sleep.

1. How did Sleepy Hollow get its name?

The area is said to have a “drowsy, dreamy influence”

on people, which seems to make them more susceptible to fantasies associated with the night. Many of the inhabitants accepted the idea that the place was bewitched and believed in the local stories about various supernatural happenings. Although they accept these wild superstitions, they do not seem to be frightened, but instead think of these strange visions and sounds as natural. In general, the area seems to have a very laid-back, comfortable atmosphere, which allows the story to describe supernatural events without having them seem terrifying.

2. What mood does the setting of the story create?

He is supposedly a Hessian soldier who had

his head blown off by a cannon ball during the Revolutionary War.

3. Who do the villagers believe the headless horseman is? How did he lose

his head?

He is believed to be riding back to the scene

of battle in search of his head, but, (since he is a ghost who is only free to wander at night), he must hurry back to the churchyard where he is buried before day break.

4. What do the villagers think he is doing out at night? Why is he said to be in such

a hurry?

He is a school teacher

5. What is Ichabod Crane’s job?

He also teaches singing lessons

What other job did Ichabod do to earn money?

He lives in the houses of the farmers whose

children attend the school.

6. Where does Ichabod live?

He only spends a week at a time at each place

so he can only have a few possessions so that he could easily carry them with him as he moved from place to place.

Why does he need to have all of his belongings in a small bundle?

He would do any light work around the farm

such as caring for the livestock and other chores.

7. What are two things that Ichabod would do to make himself useful to the

farmers?

He would help the wives with taking care of

the children.

How does he help the wives?

Schoolmasters were generally more educated

than anyone else– therefore, they were thought to be superior in their tastes and habits.

8. Why do the women in the countryside think Ichabod is an

important person?

The mothers treated him to the finest food

and nicest china.

How do the mothers treat him as a result?

They were impressed by his “superior

elegance and way of talking”

How do the younger girls respond to him?

He likes to read about ghosts and spirits–

Cotton Mather’s History of New England Witchcraft.

9. What subject does Ichabod like to read about?

Living in the “spellbound region” of Tarrytown

has enhanced his interest in “dreadful tales”.

What has increased his interest in this subject?

Because he would read until dusk, he would

have to walk in the dark towards the house in which he was currently staying with his mind filled with wild thoughts provoked by his readings. As a result, he would be frightened by almost everything he heard or saw and imagined himself surrounded by unknown dangers.

10. What would happen to Ichabod when he would walk home at night

after spending the afternoon reading?

To stop thinking these wild thoughts and to

drive away whatever evil spirits were about, he would sing psalms.

How would he handle that?

She is known for her beauty and the fortune

she will inherit from her father.

11. What are the two main things that Katrina Van Tassel is known for?

Her clothes show that she is a flirt who is

proud of her appearance; her short petticoat which displayed “the prettiest foot and ankle” would have been considered fairly racy for the time. Her wealth is indicated by the pure gold jewelry she wears, brought over from Holland by an ancestor.

What different things does she wear that demonstrate this?