This tale has been told over many generations. The Headless Horseman haunts the peaceful town of Sleepy Hollow. At day Sleepy Hollow is quiet but, at night it turns into the Headless Horseman’s stomping grounds. The Headless Horseman is a ghost that resulted from the death of a horseman during the war. The soldiers head was cut off and now his ghost haunts the woods of Sleepy Hollow in search of a head. The story goes on to tell about a man named Ichabod Crane from Sleepy Hollow. He wanted to marry Katrina who came from a wealthy family, unlike Ichabod. He and Brom Bone, another civilian from Sleepy Hollow, battled over Katrina’s heart. Later, both men received invitations for a party at Katrina’s house. Ichabod rode to and from the party on horseback. Ichabod, unknowing of the tale, was never seen again after he left the party. He rode through the very woods that the Headless Horseman inhabits. All that was found of him was his horse, hat, and a smashed pumpkin. Most think he was slain and robbed of his head by the Headless Horseman, especially the pumpkin that was found because the Headless Horseman carried one with him. Others think Brom Bone may have something to do with it because he gets a sly look on his face when the incident is brought up; could jealousy lead to this?
I would use this tale in the classroom along with an activity in which the students supported what they thought happened to Ichabod Crane. The students would give reasons that supported whether he was killed by the Headless Horseman or if the jealous Brom Bone killed him.
