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(2016
midterm assignment) Sample Student Midterm Answers 2016 #2a: Short Essay (Favorite Passage) |
LITR 4328 |
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George Kelly
Sleepless in Sleepy Hollow
“All
the stories of ghosts and goblins that he had heard in the afternoon now came
crowding upon his recollection. The night grew darker and darker; the stars
seemed to sink deeper in the sky, and driving clouds occasionally hid them from
his sight. He had never felt so lonely and dismal. He was, moreover, approaching
the very place where many of the scenes of the ghost stories had been laid. In
the centre of the road stood an enormous tulip-tree, which towered like a giant
above all the other trees of the neighborhood, and formed a kind of landmark.
Its limbs were gnarled and fantastic, large enough to form trunks for ordinary
trees, twisting down almost to the earth, and rising again into the air. It was
connected with the tragical story of the unfortunate Andre, who had been taken
prisoner hard by; and was universally known by the name of Major Andre's tree.
The common people regarded it with a mixture of respect and superstition, partly
out of sympathy for the fate of its ill-starred namesake, and partly from the
tales of strange sights, and doleful lamentations, told concerning it.”
The first time I ever encountered “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was Tim
Burton’s adaptation on the silver screen. The effect it had on me was lifelong
and left an indelible sense of terror when going through the woods at night.
When I finally read the story written by Washington Irving so long ago, it had
quite a different effect on me. There is much more to Sleepy Hollow than meets
the eye. This tale serves as a deeper look into the human mind and reveals our
fears. Three attributes that have impacted me the most are the gothic settings,
the grotesque descriptions, and the incidences of psychological correspondence
found in Irving’s short story.
The first apparent attribute of this story is how well it represents the
gothic style of Romanticism. It is no longer a mystery why I was so scared as a
child. Tim Burton had excellent source material to create a macabre film from.
The fact still remains that when I am in the forest, I am usually scared out of
my wits. I often observe the manner in which trees spiral and contort like the
tulip tree mentioned in the story. As darkness falls and one cannot even see a
hand in front of their face, one can just imagine these twisting forms coming to
life and grabbing you from where you stand. This fear is irrational and is an
impediment to my progress as an individual.
The second attribute is the grotesque imagery that underpins most of the
characters and scenery throughout the tale. The main character, Ichabod Crane,
is described as having a long, snipe-like nose perched on a small head with
glassy green eyes. The near-mythical antagonist, the headless horseman, is said
to search the wilderness on horseback every night looking for his dismembered
head. The tulip tree and the surrounding trees are grey, decaying, and
distorted. These descriptions sound more like the fringe thoughts of an
obsessive compulsive maniac. The grotesque influence fades and I realize how
delicious the imagery is in this story. I am inspired to write more often and
paint an exquisite picture with my words. Writing about my fears is cathartic
and can alleviate my anxiety for a time.
The third and most profound attribute is the recurring correspondence
that appears from beginning to end. Ichabod constantly projects his inner demons
and the superstitions that poison his mind onto the surrounding setting. “‘All
the stories of ghosts and goblins that he had heard in the afternoon now came
crowding upon his recollection.’” As a person who has been diagnosed with
generalized anxiety disorder, this attribute is the most poignant. I cannot even
recall how many times I have plastered my worries onto my surroundings and in
turn rendered myself paralyzed with fear. I frequently experience correspondence
in my daily life. How frequently can we say that literary devices apply to
reality? That is why this attribute is the most profound. I believe we can learn
so much about ourselves when authors dig into the human psyche. The fear of the
unknown poses quite a stumbling block for the advancement of our species. We can
discriminate based on outward appearance, wring our hands with anxiety, and let
fear run our day-to-day lives.
The three attributes of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that have impacted
me the most are the gothic settings, the grotesque descriptions, and the
incidences of psychological correspondence. I went from dreading this legendary
tale as a child to respecting it as an adult. Correspondence, is similar to what
people with anxiety disorders experience. Stories like these could aid society
in taking people with mental disorders seriously. I sometimes wonder what the
world would be like if I didn’t have irrational thoughts and fears that I
project onto reality. As someone who suffers from anxiety and depression, this
story reveals part of my experience.
