The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

Title: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Suggested Time: 7 days (45 minutes per day) Common Core ELA Standards: RL.8.1, RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.4, RL.8.6, RL.8.10; W.8.1, W.8.4, W.8.9; SL.8.1; L.8.1, L.8.4, L.8.5

Teacher Instructions

Preparing for Teaching 1. Read the Big Ideas and Key Understandings and the Synopsis. Please do not read this to the students. This is a description for teachers about the big ideas and key understanding that students should take away after completing this task. Big Ideas and Key Understandings: The actions of some people are for selfish reasons, although outwardly, the actions appear helpful. Synopsis The Legend of Sleepy Hollow tells the story of Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher from Connecticut, who ingratiates himself with the community of Sleepy Hollow, set in Tarry Town, New York. Legend has it that the area is haunted, and the people of the town often share stories of spirits and supernatural happenings. Ichabod is infatuated with Katrina Van Tassel, as is the town bully, Brom Bones. They compete for her affections, leading to a climax at the harvest party hosted by her father. Ichabod leaves the party disappointed in not winning Katrina’s hand. On his way home, he is chased by the Headless Horseman and disappears. The only traces left of Ichabod are his horse, his hat, and a smashed pumpkin. The story ends with the townspeople wondering what Brom Bones has to do with Ichabod’s disappearance. However, the women of the town are The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

convinced that a spirit stole Ichabod away. The story is rich with descriptive detail and archaic vocabulary. Two themes run through the story – the superstitious beliefs of the townspeople and the intrinsically selfish behaviors of the main characters. The self-absorbed actions of the characters in Sleepy Hollow prohibit them from living up to the image of a close-knit, caring community. 2. Read the entire selection, keeping in mind the Big Ideas and Key Understandings. 3. Re-read the text while noting the stopping points for the Text Dependent Questions and teaching Tier II/academic vocabulary. During Teaching 1. Students read the entire selection independently. 2. Teacher reads the text aloud while students follow along or students take turns reading aloud to each other. Depending on the text length and student need, the teacher may choose to read the full text or a passage aloud. For a particularly complex text, the teacher may choose to reverse the order of steps 1 and 2. 3. Students and teacher re-read the text while stopping to respond to and discuss the questions, continually returning to the text. A variety of methods can be used to structure the reading and discussion (i.e., whole class discussion, think-pair-share, independent written response, group work, etc.)

Text Dependent Questions

Text-dependent Questions Evidence-based Answers Q1: What evidence does the author include within paragraph 4 to A1: “[The Townspeople] are given to all kinds of marvelous tell us about the beliefs of the townspeople? beliefs; are subjects to trances and visions; and frequently see What does the author say in paragraph 16 about Ichabod’s beliefs? strange sights, hear music, and voices in the air” (4). Also, “The (para. 4 and 16) whole neighborhood abounds with local tales, haunted spots, and twilight superstitions; stars shoot and meteors glare The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

oftener across the valley than in any other part of the country, and the nightmare, with her whole nine fold, seem to make it the favorite scene of her gambols” (4). Ichabod also believed in supernatural powers. “[He] was a perfect master of Cotton Mather’s history of New England Witchcraft, in which, by the way, he most firmly and potently believed” (16). Q2: What is Ichabod’s belief on discipline for his students? How A2: Ichabod believed it was his duty to maintain strict discipline did Ichabod justify his methods of "meeting out discipline" and in his schoolroom. He was, however, fair and “administered what does that say about the nature of his personality? justice with discrimination rather than severity.” Ichabod (para. 11) justified his methods of meeting out discipline by stating that he was "doing his duty by their parents" to make them behave and that the students in turn would be thankful to him for the rest of their lives for making them good members of society (11). This shows that Ichabod was a strict, but fair teacher and that he felt an obligation to raise children to be obedient. Q3: How does Ichabod ingratiate himself (put himself in a good A3: Schoolmasters needed to be careful not to be seen in town position) with the parents of his students and why does he feel as a "financial burden," as they are often boarded and lodged the need to? (para. 11-14 and 18-19) at the farmers’ homes of their students. Ichabod barely made enough money as a schoolmaster to buy bread and he loved to eat. Although he also supplemented his income by earning shillings teaching psalmody, he needed to make himself useful and pleasant to be around for the farmers and their families to continue to enjoy good meals and warm lodgings. By being a good storyteller and well-read in superstition, including works by Cotton Mather, his visits for dinners were well received, as the town folk loved to gossip and spin ghost stories (11-14, 18- 19). Q4: Trace Ichabod’s changeable personality from the A4: Ichabod was an authority in the schoolroom. He would schoolroom to psalm master to his visits with townsfolk. What punish his students as he saw fit, particularly the tougher, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8 does this tell the reader about his personality? (para. 10, 11, stronger students. He was definitively the master in that 14) domain. At church, he felt that his ability in psalmody exceeded everyone including the pastor making him revel in feeling very exalted and proud. With his farmhouse visits, he became malleable, willing to play with young children, telling stories, or helping with jobs on the farm. This shows that he molds his personality to fit his environment and he judges what can be gained by being self-serving or nice. He gains pleasure lording the switch over his students, he gains pride and self- imposed recognition with his singing and gains favor, food and comforts by being nice and helpful around the townspeople (10, 11, 14). Q5: Why did Ichabod feel that he was envied by men and A5: Ichabod was always well received by the women of the entrancing to women? (para. 15) community because he was educated and would bring the gossip with him from his previous stays. The men were impressed by his level of comfort with the women. "The schoolmaster is generally a man of some importance in the female circle of a rural neighborhood" (15). "[Sauntering] with a whole bevy of [females], while the more bashful country bumpkins hung sheepishly back, envying his superior elegance and address" (15). Q6: Based on evidence from the text, what is Ichabod’s A6: Ichabod has always, “Had a soft and foolish heart towards intention with Katrina? (para. 21-26) the [opposite] sex” ( 22), and was taken by Katrina when he gave her singing lessons, however, the text states that he was “especially” taken with her after seeing her father’s mansion. So his intention is to marry Katrina to acquire the wealth of her family. The text also details how his mouth watered at all the “sumptuous and luxurious winter fair” upon viewing the animals on the farm (23) and while admiring all the lands and fields, he couldn’t help but picture the money it would provide if they sold it. The most convincing part of the text that implies that while Ichabod finds Katrina a prize, he really covets all that The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

would come with her as the quote in paragraph 25 states: “When he entered the house, the conquest of his heart was complete” and that “From the moment Ichabod laid his eyes upon these regions of delight, the peace of his mind was at an end, and his only study was how to gain the affections of the peerless daughter of Van Tassel” (26). (21-26) Q7: As Ichabod makes his final approach to the Van Tassel A7: Crane has little appreciation for the actual beauty of the home for the first time, what does the author tell us about land, but rather, his interest is only in the wealth this beauty Ichabod’s motives? (para. 24) will offer him if he is to marry Katrina Van Tassel. Crane’s imagination “expanded with the idea, how they (meadow- lands, fields of grains, and orchards of fruit) might be readily turned into cash, and the money invested in immense tracts of wild land, and shingle palaces in the wilderness” (24). Q8: As Ichabod enters the piazza of the Van Tassel home on his A8: The narrator tries to capture Ichabod’s excitement with a first visit, the narrator describes most of the piazza with one rapid fire effect. The reader is not meant to pause for breath as 135-word sentence. Explain the impact this sentence is meant the focus shifts from enticing foods to expensive items. There to have for the reader. (para. 25) is no appreciation for architecture or individuals in this sentence. There is only focus on what can be consumed with delight or potentially sold for fortunes (25). Q9: What words did the author use to describe Brom Bones’ A9: The author describes Brom as having “Herculean frame physical strength? What impact does that word choice have for and great powers of strength” (27). The impact is that it helps the reader? (para. 27) the reader understand the physical size and strength of Brom, especially compared to Ichabod. Q10: Even though Ichabod wanted to “make his appearance A10: Crane borrows a horse from Hans Van Ripper that is before his mistress in the true style of a cavalier,” what described as “a broken-down plough-horse,” “gaunt and evidence shows that this attempt will likely be difficult for him? shagged, with a ewe neck and head like a hammer; his rusty (para. 36) mane and tail were tangled and knotted with burrs; one eye had lost its pupil” (36). Q11: How does the author describe the view of the landscape A11: As Ichabod travels and scans the land, he sees the corn as Ichabod sees as he nears the Van Tassel residence for the party? “holding out the promise of cakes and hasty puddings,” the What does this description tell the reader? (para. 40) pumpkins are “prospects of the most luxurious of pies, and the The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

buckwheat and honey made him anticipate “dainty slapjacks” (40). This description tells the reader that Ichabod is self- centered in viewing the abundances of the land as delicious foods for him to enjoy. Q12: Why is Ichabod compared to Saint Vitus? (para. 48) A12: Ichabod was such a good dancer that the sight of him dancing would make someone think of the patron saint of dance (48). Q13: How does each man at the party “make himself the hero A13: The place in which they lived had a history of all kinds of of every exploit?” Why do they do this? (para. 50) marauding and chivalry during the war. As the men told their stories, they embellished them to make themselves appear to be the heroes. The men did this to show they were better than the man who spoke before (50). Q14: How did Ichabod feel about Katrina at the end of the A14: Ichabod felt that Katrina would be his girlfriend at the end of the party? (para. 57) party. He lingered behind as people were leaving the party to have “a tete-a-tete with the heiress, fully convinced that he was now on the high road to success.” (57). A tete-a-tete is a private conversation between two people. Q15: What happened at the end of the party to make Ichabod A15: The narrator does not state directly, but the reader can “heavy-hearted and crest-fallen, pursued his travels infer that Katrina may have been encouraging Ichabod at the homeward”? (para.57-58) party to make Brom Bones jealous. “Could that girl have been playing off any of her coquettish tricks? – Was her encouragement of the poor pedagogue [schoolteacher] all a mere sham to secure her conquest of his rival?” (57). Q16: What stories were told by the men toward the end of the A16: The men told stories of the Headless Horseman who party? What was their effect on Ichabod? (para. 62) haunted the countryside near the church. Brom told the story of his encounter with the ghost and how he raced him to the bridge. The effect on Ichabod occurred when he left the party, and began to recall the scary stories and his mind began to interpret every noise and sound as something supernatural (62). The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

Q17: Why was crossing the bridge considered the “severest A17: This was the spot where Captain Andre was captured and trial” on Ichabod’s ride home after the party? (para. 62) since was considered to be haunted. Everyone was afraid to cross this bridge, especially alone and at night (62). Q18: Describe Ichabod’s fellow traveler using text from A18: He was “gigantic in height, and muffled in a cloak”. He paragraph 65. was also “headless” – the head was “carried before him on the pommel of the saddle” (65). Q19: Use evidence from the text to describe what happened A19: The rider threw his “head” at Ichabod and hit him in “his when Ichabod crossed the bridge. (para. 68) cranium with a tremendous crash – he was tumbled headlong into the dust and Gunpowder passed by like a whirlwind” (68). Q20: How do the townspeople deal with Ichabod’s possessions A20: Van tassel threw his books and writings in a fire. The after his disappearance, and what does this say about their school was moved to a different quarter of the hollow and a view of him? (para. 70-71) new teacher was hired. This showed the townspeople didn’t really care about him; he was just passing through and not a permanent citizen of the town (70-71). The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

Tier II/Academic Vocabulary

These words require less time to learn These words require more time to learn (They are concrete or describe an object/event/ (They are abstract, have multiple meanings, are a part process/characteristic that is familiar to students) of a word family, or are likely to appear again in future texts) Me Paragraph 3 – reverberated: echo back Paragraph 2 – propensity: a natural inclination ani Paragraph 14 – psalmody: the art of singing religious psalms Paragraph 2 – prolonged: to lengthen out in time ng Paragraph 22 – repose: restfulness or tranquility Paragraph 4 – listless: languid; indifferent can Paragraph 23 – pedagogue: a school teacher Paragraph 4 – pervade: spread throughout all parts be Paragraph 36 – bestrode: to get or be astride of Paragraph 5 – collating: to arrange in proper sequence lea Paragraph 37 – apparition: supernatural appearance of a Paragraph 8 – laud: to praise; extol rne person or thing especially a ghost d Paragraph 12 – behooved: to be worthwhile fro Paragraph 13 – grievous: causing grief or great sorrow m Paragraph 13 – ingratiating: charming, agreeable, pleasing co Paragraph 18 – woefully: full of woe; wretched, unhappy nte Paragraph 25 – resplendent: shining brilliantly; gleaming, splendid xt Paragraph 27 – formidable: causing fear, apprehension or dread Paragraph 35 – emancipation: the act of emancipating (emancipating: to free from restraint or bondage) Paragraph 40 – opulence: wealth, riches or affluence Paragraph 63 – resolution: determination Me Paragraph 12 – potentate: man of power; leader Paragraph 20 – ambulate: walking about ani Paragraph 17 – capacious: spacious or roomy Paragraph 27 – dexterous: skillful or adroit in using the hands or body ng Paragraph 26 – coquette: a woman who flirts light heartedly with Paragraph 45 – itinerant: traveling from place to place on a circuit as a ne men to win their admiration and affection minister or judge eds Paragraph 28 – waggish: roguish in merriment and good humor Paragraph 50 – exploit: feat to Paragraph 54 – sequestered: secluded be Paragraph 67 – asunder: into pieces pro vid ed The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

Culminating Writing Task

 Prompt What is Ichabod’s image of himself? Find evidence in the text that shows Ichabod’s view of himself through the story. How does his self-image impact his decisions and future? Write a well-developed essay, including a claim, which analyzes Ichabod’s self-image and how it impacts what happens to him after the party. This essay should be a minimum of 5 paragraphs to fully develop ideas and analyses.  Teacher Instructions 1. Students identify their writing task from the prompt provided. 2. Students complete an evidence chart as a pre-writing activity. Teachers should guide students in gathering and using any relevant notes they compiled while reading and answering the text-dependent questions earlier. Some students will need a good deal of help gathering this evidence, especially when this process is new and/or the text is challenging!

Evidence Page Elaboration / explanation of how this evidence Quote or paraphrase number supports ideas or argument “The schoolmaster is generally a man of some Para. 15 Ichabod knew the women liked him, which gave importance in the female circle of a rural him confidence and encouraged his feeling of self- neighborhood.” importance. “. . . more bashful country bumpkins hung Para. 15 Some of the men felt less confident in themselves sheepishly back, envying his superior elegance when Ichabod was present because he could speak and address.” intelligently and confidently with the women.

On Sundays in church, “he completely carried Para. 14 He was so proud of his singing ability that he away the palm from the parson” when leading his thought he stole the show from the preacher who choir in singing the psalms. should have been the most important person in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

church. “It is not to be wondered at, that so tempting a Para. 22 Ichabod wanted Katrina as his wife because she morsel soon found favor in his eyes; especially was the most popular girl and her father was after he had visited her in her paternal mansion.” wealthy. This showed Ichabod’s selfishness.

“When he entered the house, the conquest of his Para. 26 Ichabod’s selfishness is evident in this quote heart was complete” and that “From the moment because, once he sees the wealthy farm Katrina’s Ichabod laid his eyes upon these regions of father owns, he can only think about how to win delight, the peace of his mind was at an end, and her over to gain all of that for himself. his only study was how to gain the affections of the peerless daughter of Van Tassel” “Ichabod made his advances in a quiet and gently- Para. 31 Ichabod was sly in getting Katrina to like him. He insinuating manner.” knew to challenge Brom Bones outwardly for her affection would be dangerous for him because of the type of person Brom was. Ichabod taught singing lessons to Katrina at her house under the protective, yet unaware eyes of her mother and father. “. . . but he who keeps undisputed sway over the Para. 32 Brom Bones became jealous of Ichabod and the heart of a coquette, is indeed a hero. Certain it is, amount of time he spent with Katrina. this was not the case with the redoubtable Brom Bones; and from the moment Ichabod Crane made his advances, the interests of the former evidently declined; his horse was no longer seen tied at the palings on Sunday nights, and a deadly feud gradually arose between him and the preceptor of Sleepy Hollow.” Brom “play[ed] off boorish practical jokes upon Para. 33 This was the beginning of the end for Ichabod. his rival.” Because Ichabod seemed to bounce back after “Brom took all opportunities of turning him into every trick Brom played on him, Brom’s behavior The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8 ridicule in the presence of his mistress.” escalated leading to the night of the party at Katrina’s house. “Ichabod prided himself upon his dancing as much Para. 48 During the party at Katrina’s house, Ichabod as upon his vocal powers.” blatantly flirted with Katrina in front of Brom “. . . the lady of his heart was his partner in the Bones, which infuriated Brom. dance, and smiling graciously in reply to all his amorous oglings; while Brom Bones, sorely smitten with love and jealously, sat brooding by himself in one corner.” Brom Bones “was observed to look exceedingly Para. 73 Readers can infer that Brom Bones had something knowing whenever the story of Ichabod was to do with Ichabod’s disappearance. He may have related, and always burst into a hearty laugh at acted on his feeling of jealousy that reached a peak the mention of the pumpkin; which led some to during the party because of Ichabod’s flirtatious suspect that he knew more about the matter than behavior with Katrina. he chose to tell.”

3. Once students have completed the evidence chart, they should look back at the writing prompt in order to remind themselves what kind of response they are writing (i.e. expository, analytical, argumentative) and think about the evidence they found. (Depending on the grade level, teachers may want to review students’ evidence charts in some way to ensure accuracy.) From here, students should develop a specific thesis statement. This could be done independently, with a partner, small group, or the entire class. Consider directing students to the following sites to learn more about thesis statements: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/ OR http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/ thesis_statement.shtml. 4. Students compose a rough draft. With regard to grade level and student ability, teachers should decide how much scaffolding they will provide during this process (i.e. modeling, showing example pieces, and sharing work as students go). The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

5. Students complete final draft.

Sample Answer The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving tells the story of a self-absorbed, overly-confident school teacher who ingratiates himself with the citizens of a small community in New York. The townspeople’s beliefs in ghost stories play directly into the schoolteacher’s supernatural fascinations. The schoolteacher, Ichabod Crane, is smitten with Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter of a wealthy farmer. Unfortunately, the town bully, Brom Bones is also infatuated with Katrina and sees Ichabod as a threat to their developing relationship. Ichabod is popular with the ladies of the community and confident in his abilities. His abundance of self-confidence and selfishness cause him to pursue Katrina, which makes Brom Bones jealous and vengeful and eventually leads to Ichabod’s demise. In the beginning of the story, the author develops Ichabod’s character by explaining the things in which Ichabod excels. As the schoolteacher, he is a strict disciplinarian and an authority in the school room. He would punish his students as he saw fit, particularly the tougher, stronger students. He is master in that domain. At church, he feels that his ability in psalmody (singing psalms) exceeds everyone, including the pastor, making him revel in feeling very exalted and proud. With his farmhouse visits, he is malleable, willing to play with young children, telling stories, or helping with jobs on the farm. Ichabod molds his personality to fit his environment and he judges what can be gained by being self-serving or nice. He gains pleasure lording the switch over his students; he gains pride and self-imposed recognition with his singing, and gains favor, food, and comforts by being nice and helpful around the townspeople (10, 11, 14). Through these endeavors, Ichabod gains confidence in his ability to get what he wants. Ichabod’s popularity with the townspeople increases his self-importance and confidence in getting what he wants. He is particularly popular with the women because he is educated, shares the gossip of the town during his visits, and is confident in his interactions with them. "The schoolmaster is generally a man of some importance in the female circle of a rural neighborhood" (15). The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

The men are even in awe of him because of how he is so comfortable around women. Ichabod was "[sauntering] with a whole bevy of [females], while the more bashful country bumpkins hung sheepishly back, envying his superior elegance and address" (15). This acceptance by the people of the town encourages him to take risks in gaining what he wants, mainly Katrina and her family’s riches. “When he entered the house, the conquest of his heart was complete” and that “From the moment Ichabod laid his eyes upon these regions of delight, the peace of his mind was at an end, and his only study was how to gain the affections of the peerless daughter of Van Tassel” (26). However, Ichabod is sly in how he wins over Katrina because he recognizes that she is also the love target of Brom Bones, the town bully. Ichabod know that having Brom Bones as an enemy could be dangerous. To gain favor with Katrina and her family, Ichabod teaches her singing lessons at her home. Eventually, Katrina is spending more time with Ichabod than Brom Bones. In speaking of Ichabod, the author says, “. . . but he who keeps undisputed sway over the heart of a coquette, is indeed a hero. Certain it is, this was not the case with the redoubtable Brom Bones; and from the moment Ichabod Crane made his advances, the interests of the former evidently declined; his horse was no longer seen tied at the palings on Sunday nights, and a deadly feud gradually arose between him and the preceptor of Sleepy Hollow” (32). The jealously felt by Brom Bones is the impetus for the tricks he plays on Ichabod. However, Ichabod always bounces back from the practical jokes, unscathed. The night of the party becomes the turning point in the story where Ichabod’s cockiness infuriates Brom Bones to the point of wanting to finish off Ichabod, once and for all. During the party at Katrina’s house, Ichabod is overcome with desire upon experiencing the riches of Van Tassel. He blatantly flirts with Katrina in front of Brom Bones, which infuriates Brom. “Ichabod prided himself upon his dancing as much as upon his vocal powers,” which leads to his lack of indiscretion in dancing with Katrina. “. . . The lady of his heart was his partner in the dance, and smiling graciously in reply to all his amorous oglings; while Brom Bones, sorely smitten with love and jealously, sat brooding by himself in one corner” (48). By the end of the night, he is so confident that Katrina will be his, Ichabod lingers behind as people are leaving the party to have “a tete-a-tete with the heiress, fully convinced that he was now on the high road to success” The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

(57). However, the author alludes to something happening during this conversation between Ichabod and Katrina; that possibly she turned him down in favor of Brom Bones. Ichabod leaves the party “heavy-hearted and crest-fallen, [and] pursued his travels homeward” (57-58). Ichabod is traveling alone through the part of town said to be haunted, and is on edge because of the ghost stories the men told at the party. The story of what Ichabod experiences on his ride home is never directly tied to Brom Bones. However, it can be inferred that the Headless Horseman is indeed Brom trying to punish Ichabod for his attempt to win Katrina. Ichabod disappears that night and all that is found the next day is the horse, the saddle and his hat with a smashed pumpkin near it. There is talk of what happened to Ichabod, but no one knows for sure. Brom Bones “was observed to look exceedingly knowing whenever the story of Ichabod was related, and always burst into a hearty laugh at the mention of the pumpkin; which led some to suspect that he knew more about the matter than he chose to tell” (73). Brom marries Katrina and wins in the end. It can be surmised that Ichabod would not have met this fate if he had not pursued Katrina and angered Brom Bones. Ichabod’s selfishness and over-confidence triggered a series of events he had not foreseen.

Additional Tasks

 Choose one character from the story and explain how less selfish acts by that character would have altered a part of the story. Answer: If Ichabod Crane had been less selfish in the story, he would not have infuriated Brom Bones and been the victim of his revenge. Ichabod could have continued to live the comfortable life he had in Sleepy Hollow.

 Ichabod could be viewed by some as having an inferiority complex, especially when comparing him to men like Brom Bones. Explain how Ichabod’s inferiority complex (self-image) plays a role in the development of his selfish desires. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

Answer: Ichabod seemed to over-compensate for his awkward appearance by trying to please everyone. He sought material wealth to make himself feel better about his inferior view of himself compared to men like Brom Bones.

 The story uses the word Potentate to describe Ichabod. Use this word to describe Brom Bones.

Answer: The word potentate refers to a ruler or monarch; someone with power. It is used in the story to describe Ichabod’s power in the schoolhouse. It can be applied to Brom Bones when describing his bullying behaviors over the townspeople and especially Ichabod.

 Show the Disney movie of this story and compare it to the text.

Note to Teacher

. This story is long, so teaching it in chunks is appropriate. There are many archaic words in this text, so careful attention should be paid to children’s understanding of them. The meanings of many words are included below for the teacher. It may be helpful to add annotated notes in the margins of the text to define these words for students.

. Archaic Vocabulary Definitions (not included in vocabulary chart, but helpful for teacher / student understanding) Paragraph 5 – anon: soon Paragraph 5 – gambol: skip about Paragraph 5 – spectre: ghost Paragraph 7 – imbibed: to consume by drinking The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

Paragraph 9 – cognomen: surname or nickname Paragraph 9 – wight: a being Paragraph 10 – whithe: willow twig Paragraph 13 – onerous: burdensome, troublesome Paragraph 14 – stripling: child Paragraph 15 – epitaphs: a commemorative inscription on a tomb Paragraph 16 – erudition: knowledge gained through learning Paragraph 17 – varlet: a rascal Paragraph 19 – uncouth: awkward, clumsy, unmannerly Paragraph 21 – withal: nevertheless; besides Paragraph 23 – chanticleer: rooster Paragraph 25 – piazza: an open square of public place in a city or town Paragraph 26 – labyrinth: an intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find one's way or to reach the exit Paragraph 31 – meddlesome: given to meddling, interfering, intrusive Paragraph 33 – waggery: roguish or droll humor Paragraph 34 – gamecock: a rooster of a fighting breed Paragraph 34 – ferule (also known as ferula): a rod, cane or flat piece of wood for punishing children, especially by striking them on the hand Paragraph 61 – smote: past tense of smite; to hit hard Paragraph 64 – cudgeled: hit Paragraph 67 – cleave: cut or divide The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Name ______

1. What evidence does the author include within paragraph 4 to tell us about the beliefs of the townspeople? What does the author say in paragraph 16 about Ichabod’s beliefs?

2. What is Ichabod’s belief on discipline for his students? How did Ichabod justify his methods of "meeting out discipline" and what does that say about the nature of his personality?

3. How does Ichabod ingratiate himself (put himself in a good position) with the parents of his students and why does he feel the need to?

4. Trace Ichabod’s changeable personality from the schoolroom to psalm master to his visits with townsfolk. How does that play into the nature of his personality?

5. Why did Ichabod feel that he was envied by men and entrancing to women? The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

6. Based on evidence from the text, what is Ichabod’s intention with Katrina?

7. As Ichabod makes his final approach to the Van Tassel home for the first time, what does the author tell us about Ichabod’s motives?

8. As Ichabod enters the piazza of the Van Tassel home on his first visit, the narrator describes most of the piazza with one 135-word sentence. Explain the impact this sentence is meant to have for the reader.

9. What words did the author use to describe Brom Bones’ physical strength?

10. Even though Ichabod wanted to “make his appearance before his mistress in the true style of a cavalier”, what evidence shows that this attempt will likely be difficult for him? The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

11. How does the author describe the view of the landscape Ichabod sees as he nears the Van Tassel residence for the party? What does this description tell the reader?

12. Why is Ichabod compared to Saint Vitus?

13. How does each man at the party “make himself the hero of every exploit?” Why do they do this?

14. How did Ichabod feel about Katrina at the end of the party?

15. What happened at the end of the party to make Ichabod “heavy-hearted and crest-fallen, [as he] pursued his travels homeward”? The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Grade 8

16. What stories were told by the men toward the end of the party? What was their effect on Ichabod?

17. Why was crossing the bridge considered the “severest trial” on Ichabod’s ride home after the party?

18. Describe Ichabod’s fellow traveler using text from paragraph 65.

19. Use evidence from the text to describe what happened when Ichabod crossed the bridge.

20. How do the townspeople deal with Ichabod’s possessions after his disappearance, and what does this say about their view of him?