This month, my Dark Origins post focuses on the famous American tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which features the well known character, Ichabod Crane. The background to this story is rather interesting. Thank you to Kaye Lynne Booth for hosting this post on Writing to be Read.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a gothic story by American author, Washington Irving, and is included in a collection of 34 essays and short stories entitled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
The plot
The story is set in 1790 in the countryside around the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town, New York. Sleepy Hollow is a secluded glen which is famous for its ghosts and haunting atmosphere.
Ichabod Crane moves to Sleepy Hollow to be the schoolmaster of the village. As was customary at the time, Ichabod earns practically no money, but is provided with lodgings and food on a rotational basis by the local farmers who are also the fathers of the boys he teachers. This arrangement, and the singing lessons he gives on the side, keeps him employed and also gives him numerous opportunities to listen to the many tales about ghosts, haunted spots and twilight superstitions shared by the farmers wives.
Continue reading here: https://writingtoberead.com/2021/04/28/dark-origins-the-legend-of-sleepy-hollow/
roberta-writes.com 
One of my favorite stories!!
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I know that this story is hugely popular in the USA, Jay.
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Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
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Thank you, Ed.
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It’s hard to imagine how this story became popular with kids but it did! I remember it from long ago. Didn’t know about the sketch book!
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I didn’t know this tale was included in a larger work either, Jacqui. I know this is popular with children and there is an animated version which is the one I remember.
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Kids were tougher back in the day. Stuff that now requires a safety room they just took in stride.
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Yes, but the limitations are, in my opinion, OTT. My rule for my boys was if they can read it, they may read it. My views on TV shows, movies and other visual media were more conservative. That is because I think you can only really visualise things in a written form within the realms of your own experience of life. Visual media changes that.
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Fascinating stuff as always Robbie!
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Thank you, John.
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I think the Disney animated feature hleped make this story so popular here. Thanks for sharing, Robbie!
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My pleasure, Syl. Yes, you are right about that and I watched that film of this story.
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I haven’t seen it in quite a while and there’s the movie with Johnny Depp also.
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I read the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in the fifth grade at my catholic elementary school. I never forgot it because of Ichabod Crane – that unforgettable name. It opens up with a drawing of a headless horsemen running across the dark plains and it was spooky. That part scared the crap out of me. Anyway, Robbie thank you so much for sharing this tale.
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My pleasure, Shirley. I also read this tale at a young age and I was also very scared. That name is very unusual and I was surprised to know there were a real army officer with that extraordinary name.
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I am very interested in the sentence: “One theory is that Irving’s headless horseman is derived from Sir Walter Scott’s ballad, The Chase, which is a translation of the German author Burger’s The Wild Huntsman.” I did not know this!!!
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Hi Rebecca, there is more to that particular aspect but I don’t like to make these posts to long. Irving met Scott and became friends with him in 1817: “Irving had just met and become friends with Scott in 1817 so it’s very likely he was influenced by his new mentor’s work,” she says, “The poem is about a wicked hunter who is doomed to be hunted forever by the devil and the ‘dogs of hell’ as punishment for his crimes.” If you are interested, you can read more here: https://www.history.com/news/legend-sleepy-hollow-headless-horseman
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I am VERY interested. Thank you so much for this information, Robbie. I am going to send it over to Joan Dunnett in Edinburgh – she will love this information on Sir Walter Scott.
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Sounds much too scary for me!
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The children love it, strangely enough. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
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A fabulous post, Robbie. Left you a comment over there!
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Thank you, Mae, I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
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I remember how creepy this story was! Thanks for sharing, Robbie!
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I found Ichabod to be very creepy, Jan. I didn’t like him in this story.
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I have to agree with that, Robbie. I always thought Ichabod was creepy. I also think Johnny Depp would make an outstanding Ichabod.
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Yes, he would. Johnny Depp is very creepy.
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I’ve always been fascinated by this tale, but had no idea it originated in Europe. I’m not surprised, though.
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Hi Mark, lovely to see you. Europe is a breeding ground for lots of dark myths. I am sure many of these dark ideas were transported to the USA and I’m sure you’ve added a few of your own too. Mr King has scared most of us to death over the years.
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Yes, I grew up reading Mr. King.
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True, yet we keep going back for more.
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I love the legend of sleepy hollow. Phenomenal story. 💕
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I am pleased to know that, Jude. I have always been fascinated [and scared] by it.
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It is interesting where writers get ideas and inspiration. Thanks for this bit of history about the story.
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