The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text that serve as examples and support.

1.  Washington Irving’s description of Ichabod Crane (both physical and psychological) is generally hyperbolic; he is the only character in the story described in such an exaggerated way.

• What is the significance of Irving’s description of Ichabod Crane? (topic sentence)
• List three ways that Ichabod’s appearance is important to the story. How does his description affect how the reader feels about him? Use textual details to support your points.
• In your concluding sentences, describe how the story’s tone and mood would be different if Ichabod were a less exaggerated character.

2. Irving leaves the ending ambiguous, never telling the reader whether Ichabod’s fate was supernatural or mundane.

• How is this style of ending a fitting cap to the events, mood, and tone of the story? (topic sentence)
• List 2 possible solutions to the mystery and provide support from the text in your rationale for their fittingness. What are the merits of each solution? What moral to the story is suggested by each?
• In your concluding sentences, judge which solution is the most satisfactory, and in your rationale, connect a theme such as Fall Festivities and Halloween.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. How does Irving’s telling of the story develop both humor and fear? Is the reader meant to experience fear alongside Ichabod? How do the characteristics of the American Gothic genre present in the story develop fear in ways similar to or different than the ways in which modern horror stories often develop fear?

2. What is the purpose of Irving’s development of the contrasting characters of Ichabod Crane and Brom Bones? What do their characters’ opposing personas represent? What themes do these characters’ differences develop?

3. How does Irving best utilize figurative language in this story? Locate and reference examples of sound devices and sensory imagery. Evaluate how Irving’s style of figurative language changes throughout the story; what conclusions might be drawn?