Determining the setting, choices, actions, and decisions of characters in a story can tell how significant each character's role is within of that story and set the context tone of the direction the story takes. The setting of Sleepy Hollow, New York is important because one of the important themes of the story is the conflict between the "country" people and the "city" people. The original inhabitants of the TarryTown area were Dutch and are seen as strong and vigorous farmers. Abraham 'Brom Bones' Brunt and the Van Tassels are great examples of these people. By comparison, Ichabod Crane is a Connecticut outsider. He is a Yankee, a city man with English roots. These two very different social contexts help set the tone for the conflicts that will arise throughout the story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The setting of this story, Sleepy Hollow, is a truly tiny, isolated valley off the coast of the town of Tarry. It is a rather superstitious city and seems to be haunted by the ghost of a headless horseman. This also helps set the mood for the spooky and comedic events of the finale. Using the small town feel of a place like Tarrytown also helped the author use the idea of ​​the supernatural throughout the story. Irving also uses the description "It was a sleepy-headed pleasant land." The people of the town were lazy and a little distracted. If it had been a city, or perhaps a larger city, Brom Bones' Headless Horseman trick would not have worked against Ichabod Crane. Additionally, at the Van Tassels' party, Brom Bones and the alternative Dutch farmers told recent ghost stories to help lay the groundwork for scaring away Ichabod Crane. This worked because Crane is an outsider, while the Dutch farmers are the original settlers of Sleepy Hollow. Brom Bones knows the land and the history behind it, but Crane does not. Eventually, when Brom Bones disguises himself as the legendary Headless Horseman (said to be the ghost of a Revolutionary War Hessian soldier), he chases Ichabod Crane to the Old Dutch Burying Ground, a church and cemetery. in Sleepy Hollow. In this Dutch colonial environment, the "country" man essentially wins over the "city" man. The story of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" would not be what it is now without its calm, tranquil setting off the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York. The Headless Horseman takes Ichabod Crane out of the secluded, quiet town of Sleepy Hollow. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay There are more important conflicts in the "Legend of Sleepy Hallow" ' but the obvious external struggle is between Ichabod Crane and Bram Bones, who want the same girl, Katrina Van Tassel. It's fair to say that the setting of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow plays a large role in how conflicts between characters flourish within the story. It can be concluded that the setting was a determining factor for the actions, choices and decisions of the characters within the story.