Tuesday, April 10, 2012

A-Z Challenge: Ichabod Crane

Today's character feature for A-Z Challenge (letter "I") is the legendary Ichabod Crane from Washington Irving’s dark classic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  For being only a short story, it confounds me how timeless this character is.  A couple years back, I reviewed this creepy classic (my review.)  And surprise...I loved it.  The main reason was not just for the Headless Horseman, but for the Ichabod.  Reading this character's description alone, feels like he jumps right off the page.  Here's a snidbit:
"He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together. His head was small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes, and a long snipe nose, so that it looked like a weather-cock perched upon his spindle neck to tell which way the wind blew. To see him striding along the profile of a hill on a windy day, with his clothes bagging and fluttering about him, one might have mistaken him for the genius of famine descending upon the earth, or some scarecrow eloped from a cornfield."

I love this.  It's so masterfully descriptive, it's inspiring.  Don't you think?  And as the story unfolds, his character unravels even more deliciously so.  You gotta laugh when you see Hollywood's take on Ichabod i.e. Johnny Depp in the Sleepy Hollow--which by all accounts was awesome.  Yet with all Depp's entertaining efforts of the schoolmaster's geeky portrayal, he wasn't truly Ichabod.  Not even close.

So...have you read Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?  Do you remember how wonderful Ichabod was?

Mina B. 


16 comments:

Huntress said...

Wow. That description doesn't sound like Johnny Depp at all. LOL.

Good choice for 'I'.

Unknown said...

I like Huntress's comment! Great descriptions contained in this piece of writting. I just can't wait to see the new Johnny Depp movie!

Dani said...

It's funny how they thought Depp fit the piece. I mean, he did a great job playing his odd, quirky self but the description is all wrong.

S. L. Hennessy said...

I thought Johnny Depp was awesome as Ichabod. Who would have thought that movie would be any good? But hey, Depp plus Irving is always a good plan. Awesome post.

Elise Fallson said...

I want to see the movie but feel I should read the story first. I can't believe I haven't read this yet. *shakes head in shame* (:

Lynn Proctor said...

i loved the book---just like they think johnny depp would make a good barnabas collins from dark shadows---such a shame they are making it a comedy--such a tragedy---but i do like depp!

Claire Hennessy said...

Didn't read the book and didn't see the film, but I loved the description. Maybe it should go on my TBR mountain?

Cecilia Robert said...

I watched the movie and yes, it's creepy. But that's what makes it awesome..:D I truly need to read the book. And John Depp.. well, he is just awesome.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

One of my favorite movies! I have the authentic movie poster in my office even.

Jackie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jackie said...

Okay, so I have a cool story (at least I think it is LOL)... while my hubby and I were watching Sleepy Hollow, we came to the part where Ichabod was doing an autopsy on a pregnant woman. A few seconds later, my water broke with our second child. I didn't finish watching that movie until years later. :D

Tonja said...

I love the story. Hated the movie.

DL Hammons said...

I have never read the original story and that IS an amazing description! :)

Anonymous said...

I love Johnny Depp and loved him as Ichabod. It'll be interesting to see him play Barnabas Collins. I used to rush home from school to see Dark Shadows!

Mina Burrows said...

@Huntress - I know, right?

@CM Brown - I want to see it too.

@Danielle - I agree

@S. L. Hennessy - I loved the movie too - just different version of the character.

@Elise Fallson - Yeah, it's a quick read too.

@Lynn Proctor - I hope Dark shadows is good. :(

@Claire Hennessy - LOL, mountain? Too funny Claire. That sounds about right for me too.

@Cecilia M. I loved the book & movie too.

@Alex J. Cavanaugh - Oooh, that would be killer to have.

@Jackie - Oh, WOW. That makes the film so much more memorable, huh?

@Tonja - Really? I could see why.

@DL Hammons - It is isn't it?

@Magical Mystical MiMi - Depp is a hero of mine too.

DonnaGalanti said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie - its our Halloween fave movie to watch! So dark and ethereal and just plain wicked fun! Plus been watching Johnny Depp since Gilbert Grape days and 21 Jumpstreet (yeah, I'm old)