sleepy hollow research paper notes

RESEARCH PAPER NOTES

1. Born on April 3, 1783, Washington Irving was one of the members of the first generation who were natives to the newly created United States of America, so it is fitting that he became known as the first writer to see in the new country the potential for a native literature that could rival that of the Old World.


2. Irving was born in New York, the youngest of eleven children. His father was William Irving, a self-made Scotsman who prospered in the hardware business after having immigrated to America only twenty years before.


3. How did Sleepy Hollow get its name?

Sleepy Hollow was called that because it was so quiet and tranquil that it lulled people to sleep.


4. What mood does the setting of this story create?

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.


5. Who do the villagers believe the headless horseman is? How did he lose his head?

He is supposed to be the ghost of a Hessian soldier who had his head blown off by a cannonball in the Revolutionary War


Hessians /ˈhɛʃən/ is the term given to the 18th-century German auxiliaries contracted for military service by the British government, which found it easier to borrow money to pay for their service than to recruit its own soldiers.


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

He is believed to be riding back to the scene of a battle in search of his head, but (since he is a ghost who can be free to wander only at night) he must hurry to get back to the churchyard where he is buried before daybreak.


7. What is Ichabod Crane’s job? What other job did he do to earn a little more money?

Ichabod is the schoolmaster.He also teaches singing lessons to individuals for a separate fee.


8. What subject does Ichabod like to read about?

He likes to read about ghosts and spirits. He considered himself a great authority on Cotton Mather’s History of New England Witchcraft


9. What is Cotton Mather’s History of New England Witchcraft

Cotton Mather, an author and well-known preacher, wrote accounts of the Salem Witch Trials in 1693, a year after the trials ended.

RESEARCH PAPER NOTES (PARAPHRASE DO NOT COPY!!!!!!!!!!)

10. On page 9, where will Icabod stay while he is in Sleepy Hollow?

I stay with the Clossons thiscoming week and then on to the Van Hountons.


11. On page 9, how can the reader infer that Mr. Van Tassel is rich?

Icabob says: Your home is so… (he looks around with greedy eyes) spacious. You‘re situated in such a… prosperous little nook. (he clears his throat) It‘s quite charming.


11. On page 9, who is Katrina?

MRS. VAN TASSEL: Have you met my daughter Katrina?


12. On page 9, does Icabod like Katrina?

ICABOD: Ms. Van Tassel, may I have the pleasure of this dance?


13. On page 10, does Brom like Katrina?

BROM: What‘s she doing dancing with him? I‘ll pummel him.


14. On page 10, is Brom angry at Icabod?

PETER: You can‘t beat up the schoolmaster, Brom!

BROM: Why not?


15. On page 11, who is Brom?

He‘s very good-humoured, though. And he‘s very skilled with horses. Brom is well-known for having the fastest horse in all the county.


15. On page 21, does Brom believe in the Headless Horseman?

“But I believe in the Headless Horseman.The things they say are true.If you hear his ghoulish laughter,It will be the end of you.” (p21)

RESEARCH PAPER NOTES – CHARACTER ANALYSIS (PARAPHRASE DO NOT COPY!!!!!!!!!!)

16. The narrator spends a lot of time telling us how ridiculous Ichabod looks.

To see him striding along the profile of a hill on a windy day, with his clothes bagging and fluttering about him, one might have mistaken him for the genius of famine descending upon the earth, or some scarecrow eloped from a cornfield. (1.8)


17. As cowardly as he can be, Ichabod sure has a temper. At school, Ichabod whips his students and rules over them like a cruel tyrant:

In his hand he swayed a ferule, that sceptre of despotic power; the birch of justice reposed on three nails. (1.32)


18. He's mad with desire for wealth, power, and status. After all, the only reason he wants to marry Katrina is so he can strike it rich.

Icabod Crane, Icabod Crane,Well aware of what he can gain,If Katrina‘s hand he could obtain,(1.40.)


19. Ichabod is envious, and this is shown through the symbolism of his green eyes.

His head was small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes, and a long snipe nose, so that it looked like a weather-cock, perched upon his spindle neck, to tell which way the wind blew. (1.9).


20. -Schoolteacher – Choir director-Hits on Katrina-Wont fight Brom Van Brunt-Gets dumped by Katrina-Headless Horseman scares Icabod-We're not sure what happens to him. Either he becomes a justice of the court of small claims or is killed by the Horseman.

.

-

RESEARCH PAPER NOTES – SUMMARY OF EVENTS(PARAPHRASE DO NOT COPY!!!!!!!!!!)

21. -Set in 1790-the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town-Crane wants to marry Katrina because she is rich.-Crane plans to propose to Katrina-Katrina refuses Crane-Brom sets up scary pranks for Crane.-Crane meets the Headless Horseman on his way home

.

-


21. (continued)-Crane meets the Headless Horseman on his way home-Crane races the Horseman, but he loses.-The Headless Horseman throws his head at Crane.-Crane disappears.-Some of the townsfolk believe it was the ghost, some believe it was Brom.-A smashed pumpkin was found on the road.

.

-


21. (continued)-Crane meets the Headless Horseman on his way home-Crane races the Horseman he loses-The Headless Horseman throws his head at Crane.-Crane disappears.-Some of the townsfolk believe it was the ghost, some believe it was Brom.-A smashed pumpkin was found on the road.

.

-

RESEARCH PAPER FOLDER

GET YOUR FOLDER

PUT YOUR NOTES IN ORDER 1-20

MAKE A NOTE OF WHICH NOTES YOU ARE MISSING!

TOMORROW YOU WILL BE ADDING YOUR HOMEWORK

FIND YOUR PART

UNDERLINE OR CIRCLE YOUR PART

CROSS OUT (THINGS IN PARENTHESIS)

MISSING YOUR PART WILL RESULT IN ZERO POINTS BEING GIVEN

BEING ON YOUR PHONE WHEN YOUR PART IS GIVE WILL RESULT IN POINTS FROM YESTERDAY BEING TAKEN AWAY.

sleepy hollow research paper notes

Education