Instant Resources for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Whether you're looking for a short story to pair with the novel you're teaching, or you need a 2- to 3-day sub plan to use with the stories in your textbooks, Prestwick House Instant Short Story Packs go beyond basic comprehension to help students learn how to analyze literature. 

Each downloadable pack addresses key skills through 5-10 standards-based analysis questions by guiding students through a series of scaffolding graphic organizers and in-class activities. 

This Instant Short Story Pack for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving includes:

• Scaffolding graphic organizers and in-class activities
• Standards-based objectives
• Introduction and pre-reading notes
• Complete short story text
• Rigorous analysis questions
• Detailed teacher's answer guide

About The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is one of thirty-four essays and short stories—including the famous “Rip Van Winkle”—in Washington Irving’s collection titled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. Irving used the pen name Geoffrey Crayon for most of his career. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was allegedly discovered by Crayon and supposedly “found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker.” Knickerbocker was another fictional persona, introduced to Irving’s readers in 1809 with the publication of a satirical piece: A History of New-York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty.

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is one of the first pieces of literature written by a citizen of the United States to gain international fame during the writer’s life and enjoy enduring fame after the author’s death. From his first appearance in 1820, the headless horseman immediately captured the American imagination and has become a universal image in the popular culture of the United States. He is the subject of cartoons, high-suspense-and adventure movies, television fantasies—even candy bar commercials. His image has been copied and imitated by generations of Halloween revelers.