Romanticism Introduction – English 11 Sleepy Hollow, Dir. Tim Burton Starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci

Romanticism Introduction – English 11 Sleepy Hollow, dir. Tim Burton Starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci

Sleepy Hollow is based on Washington Irving’s short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which is a classic of American Romantic literature. As you watch the movie, write down examples of the following characteristics of Romantic literature, and make connections between the movie and the important events of the Romantic time period that are listed. One example is written in for you.

Romantic Element Example in/connection to this film Interest in the common man and Ichabod Crane is a regular working guy. childhood

Strong senses, emotions, and feelings

Love of nature

Celebration of the Individual (it’s ok to be weird)

Importance of imagination (fantastic elements)

Gothic elements (gothic: of or relating to a style of writing that describes strange or frightening events that take place in mysterious places)

Edgar Allan Poe writes the first detective stories in which a main character uses evidence to solve crimes.

Romantic Element Example in/connection to this film Edgar Allan Poe writes the first horror stories.

Washington Irving writes stories about the Dutch immigrants to the New York/Hudson Valley area.

Washington Irving incorporates local legends and ghost stories into his short stories.

Herman Melville’s father died and his family lost all their money.

Herman Melville becomes famous with his tales of adventure.

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a famous story, “Young Goodman Brown” about a character who discovers that many seemingly upstanding citizens of his village are secretly practicing witchcraft.