The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Context Clues and Terms

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Context Clues and Terms

by Lord Alford

​Directions

​For each of the questions, give what the highlighted word(s) means based on the context clues in the sentence.

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​Some questions will ask what literary term is being used in the highlighted section.

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​Be careful! Don't lose your head over this!

Multiple Choice

And, of course, the one and only Ichabod Crane. Ichy was the country schoolmaster dreamed up by Washington Irving. He had a way with a yarn, did Mr Irving.

• thread used for knitting

• tall tale

• a school lesson

• vocabulary word

Multiple Choice

What literary term is this?

If we could journey back to that period in history when Manhattan was but a market town, we would discover, in one of the coves which indent the shores of the Hudson, the little village of Tarry Town. And just beyond, nestled deep in the low rolling hills, a sequestered glen. It's a quiet, peaceful place, and yet, somehow... foreboding.

• symbolism

• alliteration

• allusion

• imagery

Multiple Choice

If we could journey back to that period in history when Manhattan was but a market town, we would discover, in one of the coves which indent the shores of the Hudson, the little village of Tarry Town. And just beyond, nestled deep in the low rolling hills, a sequestered glen. It's a quiet, peaceful place, and yet, somehow... foreboding. It abounds in haunted spots, twilight tales and local superstitions.

• scary

• idyllic

• peaceful

• unreachable

Multiple Choice

The best-known story concerns an itinerant schoolmaster who once frequented these parts. Some say his melancholy spirit still haunts the vicinity. The pedagogue was described as a most unusual man.

• old timer

• Moving from place to place

• resident

• imaginary

Multiple Choice

The best-known story concerns an itinerant schoolmaster who once frequented these parts. Some say his melancholy spirit still haunts the vicinity. The pedagogue was described as a most unusual man.

• bully

• entertainer

• ghost

• school teacher

Multiple Choice

What literary term is being used here?

He was tall, but exceedingly lank. His head was small and flat on top, with a long, snipe nose. It looked like a weathercock perched upon his spindle neck.

• hyperbole

• simile

• symbolism

• alliteration

Multiple Choice

Which picture below shows the best definition of "burly"

Their self-appointed leader, Brom Bones, was a burly, roistering blade, always ready for a fight or a frolic.

Multiple Choice

What does this sentence mean?

Though Brom was given to madcap pranks and practical jokes, there was no malice in his mischief. With his waggish humor and prodigious strength, Brom Bones was quite the hero, all the country round.

• Brom is the antagonist in this story and means to push his evil plans on others

• Brom will be the protagonist of this story

• Brom was insane and often threatened others with his antics

• Though Brom is the antagonist, he never meant any real harm by his actions

Multiple Choice

Odds bodkins! Gadzooks! Look at that old spook of spooks. 

Who's that coming down the street? 

Are they shovels or are they feet? 

Lean and lanky 

Skin and bone 

With clothes a scarecrow would hate to own

• ungracefully thin and tall

• hideously ugly, like a ghoul or demon

• Well dressed and respectable in manner

• overweight, yet with the appearance of being thin

Multiple Choice

Truth to say, Ichabod was a conscientious man, and ever bore in mind the maxim spare the rod and spoil the child. Still, he was careful to administer justice with discrimination. For it behoved him to keep on good terms with his pupils. Especially if their mothers happened to be good cooks.

• rule/proverb

• law

• short for maximum

• hyperbolic statement

Multiple Choice

Truth to say, Ichabod was a conscientious man, and ever bore in mind the maxim spare the rod and spoil the child. Still, he was careful to administer justice with discrimination. For it behooved him to keep on good terms with his pupils. Especially if their mothers happened to be good cooks.

• an action or actions that uphold the highest standard of ethics

• an action that is the right thing to do, but does not benefit the individual doing it

• an action that is worthwhile for someone's self interests

• an action that goes against a person's moral code

Multiple Choice

From this passage, what can we assume about Ichabod's finances?

As time went by, it may be seen that the pedagogue got on tolerably enough. Moreover, Ichabod found ways to increase his slender income and, at the same time, awaken the cultural interests of the sleepy little village.

• Ichabod doesn't make enough to live on

• Ichabod makes just enough, but not enough to save up or have extra spending money

• Ichabod is making much more than the average person in town

• Ichabod makes too much money and doesn't know what to do with it all

Multiple Choice

What idiom matches the line marked in green?

It was inevitable that a man like Ichabod would become an object of ridicule to Brom Bones and his gang. Yet, to Ichabod, these were small matters. He possessed a remarkable equanimity which remained quite undisturbed until that fateful day, when his path was crossed by a woman.

• A man can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.

• Good walls make good neighbors.

• Birds of a feather flock together.

• Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

Multiple Choice

Based on the orange passage, what might COQUETTE mean?

Once you have met that little coquette Katrina 

You won't forget Katrina 

But nobody yet has ever upset Katrina 

That cute coquette Katrina 

You can do more with Margaret or Helena Or Anne or Angelina 

But Katrina will kiss and run 

To her, a romance is fun 

With always another one to start 

• a girl who is shy

• a girl who flirts

• a girl who is serious about relationships

• a beautiful young lady

Multiple Choice

What image is also a portal?

Every portal to Katrina's heart was jealously guarded by a host of rustic admirers. But Ichabod was confident he'd soon ride roughshod over these simple country bumpkins.

Multiple Choice

Every portal to Katrina's heart was jealously guarded by a host of rustic admirers. But Ichabod was confident he'd soon ride roughshod over these simple country bumpkins.

• Ichabod feels his horse riding skills will win Katrina's heart

• Ichabod believes the other guys are too simple-minded to stand a chance against him

• Ichabod believes Katrina will admire him for his intelligence and charm

• Ichabod worries that there are just too many other admirers

Multiple Choice

Based on the orange passage, why does Katrina wish for a champion? 

The ease with which Brom cleared the field of rivals both piqued and provoked the fair Katrina. She often wished that some champion would appear and take the field openly against the boisterous Brom.

• She is scared of Brom

• She likes Brom, but wants to be fought over by several suitors

• She likes Brom, but feels she could attract a better suitor

• She feels helpless and like a damsel in distress

Multiple Choice

What literary term is this?

A wiser man would have shrunk from the competition, but love is blind. Ichabod was aware only that Dame Fortune was at last thundering at his door. 

• metaphor

• idiom

• allusion

• personification

Multiple Choice

Gaily bedecked and nobly mounted on a horse he had borrowed, Ichabod issued forth like a knight errant of old to keep a tryst with his lady fair.

• dressed for a fun party

• cleaned up (since they didn't bath often back then)

• Dressed in nontraditional gender clothes

• fill with anticipation and nervousness

Multiple Choice

Gaily bedecked and nobly mounted on a horse he had borrowed, Ichabod issued forth like a knight errant of old to keep a tryst with his lady fair.

• romantic meeting

• joust

• quest

• promised action of nobility

Multiple Choice

Just gather round and I'll elucidate what goes on outside, when it gets late. 

Around about midnight, the ghosts and banshees get together for nightly jamborees.

• explain with abstract dance

• lecture in great detail

• explain, make clearer

• sing in a falsetto voice

Multiple Choice

The following line is an example of which literary terms?

That's right, he's a fright on Halloween night 

• rhyme scheme

• internal rhyme

• forced rhyme

• end rhyme

Multiple Choice

They say he's tired of his flamin' top He's got a yen to make a swap 

So he rides one night each year To find a head in the hollow here

• desire

• desperate need or else faces eternal damnation

• a type of money/ currency

• large knife

Poll

In the original story, Katrina tells Ichabod who it is that has won her heart.  Take a guess, who is it that won Katrina's heart?

• No one will ever win her heart

• a different guy that doesn't even appear in the story or cartoon

Multiple Choice

What literary term is this?

With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop

He's out lookin' for a top to chop 

So don't stop to figure out a plan

You can't reason with a headless man

• metaphor

• pun

• allusion

• onomatopoeia

• symbolism

Multiple Choice

What literary term is this?

It was the witching hour of night as Ichabod pursued his travel home. The sky grew darker. One by one, the stars winked out their lights. Driving clouds obscured the moon from sight.

• hyperbole

• dramatic irony

• pun

• alliteration

• personification

Multiple Choice

It was the witching hour of night as Ichabod pursued his travel home. The sky grew darker. One by one, the stars winked out their lights. Driving clouds obscured the moon from sight. Never had the schoolmaster felt so melancholy, so utterly alone. The nearer he approached the hollow, the more dismal he became. 

• sad

• optimistic

• heart-broken

• tired

Poll

Poll: What do you think?

Is the Headless Horseman just a prank played by Brom on Ichabod or is the headless horseman a real spirit (in the context of the story, that is)?

• Prank

• Real