English Essay: 1.10.17

Writing assignment: 500 words on this topic: "Were the detailed descriptions of the people around the two main characters equally important in the two stories?"



Washington Irving wrote two very entertaining and magical compositions, in the form of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and ''Rip Van Winkle". He is a master and professional at making these stories seem real, even though they are obviously fiction.  Irving had a impressive ability to lead people into the story, by his vivid descriptions and perfect imagery. His characters and scenes come alive, and you feel like you're actually experiencing the events taking place. Both tales draw you into a dream world, with interesting but very simple characters. 

Rip Van Winkle is a plain, rather lazy man who just wants to get away from his wife. She is an aggravating, pesky sort of woman, who is always on his case about something. His home life is an absolute nightmare, from which he is always trying to escape. His farm is also a mess, because he does a poor job of upkeep. The only freedom he gets from it is his daily walks in the woods, to hunt for rabbits with his dog. It's on one of these saunters that he discovers a man carrying a keg of liquor. Farther on atop a high mountain, they find men playing nine-pins. Rip and his companion drink the liquor, which forces him into a deep sleep. Upon waking, he finds his way back to the small Dutch community he lives in. 

To his confusion and despair, he realizes it is completely changed while he was asleep. It eventually occurs to him that he time-traveled while he napped, and it is now 20 years later! The world has been completely revolutionized and now it is no longer King George, but George Washington who is charge of America. He is accused of being a Tory, when he makes clear his allegiance to the late King George.Rip meets his daughter, now grown up, married and with a child of her own. It's from her lips that he is surprised (and truth be told, delighted) to see that his bothersome wife recently died.The source of all his misery now gone, he is at last able to happily live out his life contentedly. He becomes a celebrity in his town, sitting around and telling his classic story with the older men.



The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a magical, mystical story, one of tragedy and mystery. It tells the story of Ichabod Crane, an odd, ugly teacher who falls for a pretty heiress, Katrina Van Tassel. The entire story is about his attempts to win her affections, despite the obstacles in his way. He is in competition with a much more attractive, popular man, Brom Van Brunt. It's somewhat laughable to compare them, as they are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum from each other. Ichabod Crane is an awkward, clumsy fellow, with huge ears and long legs. There is little that is appealing about him, when it comes to looks. Brom Van Brunt is a surely, muscular fellow who is handsome and known as the strongest man in Sleepy Hollow. He is also intent on gaining the fair Katrina's hand in marriage, and inheriting some of her money.


Naturally, he is jealous when he finds Ichabod is set on Katrina as well. Unfortunately, she is a big flirt and invites both of them to a fine dinner at her prestigious father's home. Ichabod is beside himself with excitement, at being invited to the fair maiden's house. He spends an  evening dancing,eating and listening to stories told by Brom and his comrades. However, he fails in securing Katrina's heart as he had wished and proposing to her. Heartbroken, he sets out on a lonely dark night to return home from the harvest party. His mind begins to play tricks on him, because of scary ghost stories Brom had told him. He comes upon a a rider disguised in a cloak, right on the edge of a swamp. 

This man looms over him with enormous size and his head is on his saddle, instead of being on his head! At this point, Ichabod is terrified to death and tries to run away from his opponent. He furiously rides away on his horse, trying to cross a bridge and get away from this hideous creature. But the headless horseman of old myth catches up with him, countering him and spooking his heart. Ichabod is thrown to the ground by his poor animal ,and the ghostly man throws his head in Crane's direction. 

By the next morning, Ichabod Crane is nowhere to be found, having disappeared from sight altogether. All that remains of him is his hat, horse, and saddle in the woods. The real person behind the headless horseman is never revealed, although many are sure it is Brom Van Brunt. The Dutch wives of Sleepy Hollow hold to their superstition that Crane's departure is because of supernatural interference. 


In light of both of these stories, I would say that the descriptions of the characters is definitely crucial in both of them. It is the in-depth and thorough portraits Irving gives that make these stories so fascinating and hard to put down. He doesn't fail to deliver quality literature that is engaging and unique.