Comparing Rip Van Winkle And The Legend Of Sleepy Hallow

1010 Words3 Pages

Jefferson Calle
English 215
Professor Tooma
Critical Analysis Paper #1

Washington Irving produced many tales throughout the course of his life. Two of his best known short stories are found in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon Gent, which was originally published in 1819. “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hallow” share a fair amount of similarities as well as differences. The protagonists found within each of these stories both are influenced by the supernatural, and these cause them to disappear. In addition, their absence has a similar effect on the towns they are a part of. They share many things in common, but the two stories do have differences when compared side by side. Both stories take place in Dutch villages, …show more content…

This town is also described as being old and secluded. “Local tales and superstitions thrive best in these sheltered long-settled retreats …” (Irving 309). Sleepy Hallow is describes as being enchanted and bewitched. Irving directly states to the reader that myths tend to exist in areas that have been long established. Therefore, both stories have central characters that believe they have been affected by the supernatural. However, the members of these two settlements feel differently towards the paranormal stories that are well known throughout the …show more content…

The narrator provides a very explicit explanation of what Crane looks like. He is described as very tall with exceptionally long limbs. “… hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely held together.” (Irving 293) Based on this description, we can tell that Ichabod sticks out like a sore thumb. As a matter of fact, he is even compared to a scare crow. Whereas Rip Van Winkle loves to drink, Ichabod has an insatiable appetite. “The revenue arising from his school was small, and would have been scarcely sufficient to furnish him with daily bread, for he was a huge feeder …” (Irving

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