LITR 4232: American Renaissance
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Student Presentation, spring 2001

Reader: Pamela Buhler

Recorder: Keely Coufal

24 January 2001

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is a timeless gothic tale concerning the Headless Horseman. The gothic style in literature emerged as a reaction against reality and the "enlightenment" period. Washington Irving wrote the fictional short story in 1819-1820. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is written in a fictional pattern with a narrator and dialogue. The story follows the gothic pattern in Objective 2 using a haunted forest (1355, 1371-1372) as the setting for events.

The mystery of "The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow" is revealed in detail to lay the foundation for the superstition and myth (1355). The gothic scene is developed using terms such as "shadows," "valleys," "churchyard," "ghost rides," and "gloom of night." The central character Ichabod Crane believes the ghost should vanish upon crossing the bridge "according to rule." Such "rules" are presumed to govern gothic novels. Ichabod Crane believed in those rules of the headless horseman disappearing. Ichabod Cranes vanishes and is believed to have disappeared by "the old country wives" and other villagers believed he lived in "a distant part of the country" (1372). "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" ends with the fate of Ichabod Crane unanswered.

Objective 1 looks at explaining the popularity of gothic novels. People derive a pleasure from being scared. They do not want to look and see the act of terror, but they will "peek" to have their curiosity answered. Comparing past gothic to present day is part of Objective 2. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow can be compared to a Stephen King novel or Nightmare on Elm Street. Examples of modern "gothic" and "the sublime" in popular television shows are the Twilight Zone and X Files. Gothic can be disguised in various forms. A space gothic main character would be an alien. An example, of theology gothic would be the "Exorcist." "Interview With a Vampire" by Ann Rice would be a soft-core gothic. Certain forms of rock music are considered gothic because of sound, style, and lyrics. Black nails are considered a form of gothic fashion.

Keely Coufal took discussion notes. Thomas responded that certain rules do govern gothic tales and superstition. Rules of superstition are applied by human rules. Humans apply the rules to haunted forest, castles, houses, etc…. The villagers set the rules for when the headless horseman would disappear.

Cleo made a connection between the pumpkin and the symbolic desire for food and luxury by Ichabod. Ichabod’s goal was to marry Katrina Van Tassel, live in luxury, and have plenty to eat (1360). A pumpkin was symbolic of the horseman’s head and was used by the headless horseman "in the very act of hurling his head " at Ichabod Crane. The fate of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow are never answered. Gothic tales often leave the ending unanswered causing an air of mystery to surround the story and to keep the reader guessing and asking "what if."