The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is Gothic. The spooky atmosphere and superstitious premise are overt and give the story a strong mood. An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge is realistic. There are no exaggerations or numerous details that don't advance the plot or build characters, and it is written as though it were a record of actual events. Sleepy Hollow is written as though from a single viewpoint (probably Brom's,) and it is presented as being a real story. Owl Creek Bridge is told from several perspectives, including Peyton's. Since (spoiler) Peyton dies at the end, there is no way the account could have actually happened, as the only person who could have know of Peyton's delusions was Peyton himself.
Both stories have endings that are unhappy for the protagonist, and both have a twist at the end. Sleepy Hollow's twist (that Brom was pretending to be the headless horseman to scare off Ichabod) was implied, while Owl Creek Bridge's was stated specifically in the end.
I think we all agree that Sleepy Hollow is overly descriptive, and the descriptions do nothing for the plot. I agree that Peyton's dream could have only been told of by Peyton himself; and I consider it odd that the more unrealistic story suggests its self as real and the realistic story, or the dream anyway, can be proved a fiction.
ReplyDeleteYes, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has many details. It is quite intresting how the gothic & realistic are told in different perspectives; while in the meantime it is neat to compare the way Bierce & Irving write their stoies. I also had never thought about it in the way that Micah commented on.
ReplyDeleteThat's really interesting. I had never thought of it they way that Micah did either! I completely agree with him though. It is sort of funny that things could turn out that way, how the realistic things can be proved fiction and that the unrealistic things present themselves as real. I also find it interesting that the stories were written from different view points. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow from a single point of view and An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge from several.
ReplyDeleteYeah, there are definitely ways in which the stories are both similar and different. In any case, they're both a bit verbose (at least, I thought so) and predictable. And slightly improbable. ;) But there are certainly ways in which they're different - I liked the way you described the differences. I personally liked Bierce's way of approaching the story more than I liked Irving's.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I totally agree with the bit about Brom probably posing as the Headless Horseman to try to scare Ichabod off. Anyways, that's beside the point. :D
good thoughts... I agree with Micah that the unrealistic seems real, and the seemingly realistic is fiction. I also thought it was intriguing how the endings/fates of the protagonists were very similar.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely awesome thoughts! I felt like the headless horsemen was Brom Bones at the end of Legend of Sleepy Hollow. And it is weird how the unrealistic seems real and the seemingly realistic is fiction!
ReplyDeleteMicah, great job! I really like the way you took the common feelings/reactions to the two stories and put it into a coherent thought. Zach, I agree with you on the qualities, common endings, and Brom's part in the legend.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you, Micah! It is really strange how fiction seems like truth and truth seems like fiction. I'd always thought that Brom was the headless horseman, but Irving never clearly states it, which completely contrasts with Bierce's abrupt ending.
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