Answer:
1. The descriptions, given of Sleepy Hollow establish it as a legendary place. The stories of ghosts, the traditional beliefs, the ambiance of the town which was described as drowsy and dreamy all lend to its legendary attributes. The story of the Hessian trooper was also a legend believed by the occupants of the territory.
2. The theme of legend or traditional stories permeates the book as the old men(as seen during the party thrown by Hans Van Tassel), young women and housewives, as well as the teacher, Ichabod, delighted in stories of ghosts and the Hessian trooper. Gossip also played a role in the story as there were many formulated speculations of the whereabouts of Ichabod when he disappeared. It was also rumored that the wealthy farmer refused to give his daughter to the teacher in marriage.
Explanation:
A legend is a traditional story believed by the occupants of a territory to be part of their history but which cannot be vouched for by concrete evidence. Legends abound in the story titled the 'Legend of the Sleepy Hollow'. The apparition of a rider on a horseback without a head which resembled a Hessian trooper was one. The ambiance of the village which was described as drowsy and dreamy also had a legendary feel.
The many other stories of legends told and believed by the villagers such as the woman in white that haunted the glen at Raven Rock, the mournings heard at the great tree, the funeral trains all contributed to the legends which characterized the story.
