Updated 2023 201: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

• Describe the cultural climate of the Early-to-Mid 19th Century

• Analyze the literary contributions of Washington Irving

Objectives

1.Review of major discussion posts from last class (re-form Socratic dialogue groups)

2. Guided discussion activity: historical context and literary analysis

*Test grades returned by Friday

Agenda

Monday, March 6th

• As America continues to advance in industry and science, what impact will that have on creative thought and practice, especially in connection with nature?

• What makes American literature distinctly different from British literature? Should American literature be void of all British literary influence, or remain in conversation with those traditions?

• How does patriotism and nationalism influence and inspire critique from literary works?

• How is the social and political discord of the time reflected in literary works?

• In a time of philosophical and scientific advancement, how does America remain a faith-based society?

• Who is an American? How does the American contribute to society, and how is thought and action in America different socially, politically, and economically than in Europe?

• How do we break through elitism, factions, and political discord to unify the people under the cause for independence?

• How does a faith-based society reconcile Christian beliefs with the persistence of slavery?

18th Century

Literature of the Early-to-Mid 19th Century: Matters of concern for 18th century writers shift specifically to literature for education, value, and enjoyment

19th Century

Recall: Major Discussion Points/Analyses from Friday's Class in Your Socratic Dialogue Groups: 7 minutes

​Characterization: physical features, personality, gender--Ichabod, Brom Bones, Headless Horseman

Setting: Sleepy Hollow and its inhabitants

Theme: Rumors and gossip

Plot: Author's choice to avoid a clear resolution/explanation

Theme: Gradual shift from religious worldviews to Enlightenment, lingering influence of the Salem Witch Trials

Device: Imagery

Revisit Key Moments of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" using Historical Context

​Now that we have made some observations and connections with themes and devices, we will add some additional historical context to see how it enhances, challenges, and overall informs our understanding of this narrative, especially as a creative piece.

• I will read out a short section of the informational text, follow by a section/sections of the story we have discussed. The slides will contain the page numbers.

• After, I will give you time to come up with 1-2 significant connections in your group. Your goal is simply to analyze the story sections through the lens of this historical information

American Literary Nationalism and the 1820s

• ​Informational Text: p. 6-7: "It is worth understanding...mired in conflict"

• "Legend of Sleepy Hollow": Setting and Sleepy Hollow's Inhabitants, p. 42-43: top-"gambols", "It is remarkable-"Sheltered bosom" (5 mins)

• Informational Text: p. 5-6: beginning of section-"several decades"

• "Legend of Sleepy Hollow": Characterization of Ichabod and Brom Bones, setting:

  p. 43: "In this byplace of nature"--"eloped from a cornfield

  p. 49: "Among these, the most formidable"--"at the bottom of it"

  p. 49: "such was the formidable rival"--"high as ever"

  p. 54: "This neighborhood"--"happy termination" (7 minutes)

An American Renaissance

• Informational Text: p. 4: "Nevertheless"--"reading each other's works" (5 minutes)

• p. 47-48: "As the enraptured"-"the Lord knows where!"

• p. 54: "and now to the sound of music"--"in one corner"