The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Comprehension Questions
Please answer the question completely. Make sure to restate the question
in your
answer. Don’t forget to capitalize your sentence and end with correct punctuation. If needed, use
the RACES format for organization.
1. What is the setting of the story? Be specific and complete.
2. What characters are introduced in the exposition of the story?
3. What conflicts are present in the story? (internal/external –person vs. person, etc.)
Explain.
© ELAtions, Melanie Davis, 2017
4. Who do the villagers believe the headless horseman is? How did he lose his head? What do
the villagers think the Headless Horseman is doing out at night and why is he said to be in
such a hurry?
5. Ichabod is described as “…a kind of traveling newspaper.” Explain this description and then
connect it to the folktale genre.
6. Symbols- The color black often symbolizes evil. Look through the story and determine which
items, if any, are black or dark. List them and then explain if it is appropriate that they are
described in this manner.
© ELAtions, Melanie Davis, 2017
7. Compare and Contrast Ichabod Crane and Brom Van Brunt. Use a Venn Diagram.
8. How does Irving use Ichabod’s and Brom’s horses as extensions and symbols of their
characters?
9. What mood is Ichabod in when he leaves Katrina’s house that night? What evidence is there
of his mood? Cite specific evidence from the text.
© ELAtions, Melanie Davis, 2017
10.
What makes it seem that Brom Van Brunt knew something about what happened that
night? Explain using specific evidence from the text to support your answer.
11. The following sentence is an example of what literary device:
“When he started, the afternoon sky was clear, and nature was dressed in rich gold colors.”
© ELAtions, Melanie Davis, 2017