Legend has it.... The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Washinton Irving was born in 1783 in New York City and he served as U.S Minister to Spain. Much of his writing was influenced by his travels. Among his most famous books are The Sketch Book, which included The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip van Winkle, Tales of a Traveler and The tales of the Alhambra. He used a pen name(Diedrich Knickerbocker) for his first book A History of New York.

 Here you have a slideshare to learn more facts about him.

Washington irving tran12 from uanimist

Let´s work with legends a little bit. What´s a legend for you? Legends are stories that have been handed down from generation to generation and they usually include information from the past. All cultures have legends. Do you know any one?

Here we are going to work with one legend that Washington Irving made popular ( The Legend of Sleepy Hollow). 

 Legends are always based on previous stories and we have a mixture of facts and fiction. Irving had already heard about this story before and he was based on German folk tale where the image of the headless horseman is introduced.


Here you have a link to the story, click on it and read and listen at the same time. Enjoy the story and have a spoooooky time!!!!!

http://www.manythings.org/voa/stories/The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow_-_By_Washington_Irving.html

Once we have read the story, who can tell me what may have happened to Icabod?  His horse has been found in a field, there are remains of a splattered pumpkin.....
I give you some suggestions:
- he´s been the victim of a cruel man. Some people blame Brom Van Brunt....
- he´s been spirited away.....
- he´s too embarrased so he ran away....
Have you got more options? The end is very open so you can say many things. Use your imagination and write your comments. Explain your ideas.

Disney has also done his own version of the story. Have a look at this video!! The film was done in 1949!!

Tim Burton , of course, has done his own version of this famous legend. Even though his film is loosely connected to the real story here you have the trailer so that you can see how he creates an impressive gothic atmosphere!!!

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This is Tim Burton´s plot: It all begins in 1799, in the New York City Police department, where Ichabod Crane, a scientifist and detective has been dispatched by his superiors to the little hamlet of Sleepy Hollow. There, a succession of horrible crimes takes place: all the victims have been found beheaded.

When he arrives in Sleepy Hollow all the inhabitants are convinced that the murderer isn’t of flesh and blood but a headless warrior from beyond the grave who, on a massive black steed, mows off heads at a gallop and that they all call: THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN.

But Ichabd Crane doesn’t believe this “fairy tale” and he begins to lead the investigation, with his bag of scientific tools....

Do you want to know more? and how the story ends? Let´s watch the film .