Golden fields of corn held the “promise of cakes and hasty-pudding.” The pigeons he saw were “snugly put to bed in a comfortable pie” and gazing upon fat pigs cheerfully running about “he saw carved out the future sleek side of bacon, and juicy relishing ham.” It’s no wonder that he was enraptured at the sight of the feast served at the Van Tassel’s autumnal party. Ichabod Crane is distracted by the thought of food throughout Irving’s story. This is one tale that is likely to remain a mystery. We don’t really know if Ichabod was chased down by the Headless Horseman or by Brom Bones in disguise. While the film version makes it clear that the spirit of the Hessian rider is real, Irving’s story is a little less clear. Although not particularly faithful to the source material, Sleepy Hollow nevertheless manages to evoke the gothic spirit of Irving’s tale. Not the least of which is turning Ichabod Crane into a bumbling detective recently come to Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of beheadings. The film takes a great deal of liberties with the story. Tim Burton’s 1999 film version entitled Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, is one of the more recent adaptations. After a grand party at the Van Tassel farm, where Ichabod has been turned down by Katrina, Ichabod first comes face to face with the avenging spirit of the headless Hessian rider, a local restless spirit. Competing with Crane for Katrina’s hand is Brom Bones, a popular local boy. Irving’s original story tells of the bumbling and superstitious schoolteacher Ichabod Crane who is determined to win the hand of Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter of a wealthy farmer. First published in 1819, the legend of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman has remained a popular ghost story to this day with several adaptations to film, television, and theatre over the years. Haunting spirits, pumpkins, and a headless horseman! Washington Irving’s gothic story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is ripe with autumnal imagery.

The legend of sleepy