Early American writing—from poems by Phillis Wheatley to George Washington's artful letters—tended to use a highly formal style. The works of Washington Irving do not stray from this convention. In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," you'll encounter long, complex sentences and probably many words that are unfamiliar to you. When you see unfamiliar words, try to guess their meanings based on context clues. Read this passage from Irving's most famous short story:
[Ichabod] was, in fact, an odd mixture of small shrewdness and simple credulity. His appetite for the marvellous, and his powers of digesting it, were equally extraordinary; and both had been increased by his residence in this spell-bound region. No tale was too gross or monstrous for his capacious swallow.
Knowing that shrewdness means "cleverness," what would you guess is the meaning of credulity in the passage?
The fact that Ichabod was "an odd mixture of" shrewdness and credulity suggests that credulity is the opposite of shrewdness. The next sentences confirm that Ichabod, when listening to supernatural tales, is the opposite of clever: Instead of listening skeptically, he believes every tale he hears.
The activities below will help you learn some of the words that you'll see in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The story is quite long. Knowing at least some of its more difficult words can help you move through it more quickly.
| propensity | wight |  |
| onerous | ingratiating | |
| pedagogue | portentous | |
| caprices | pensive | |
| impunity | pertinacious |
Make a Guess
Pick and Choose
Flash Forward
First, see if you already know some of the words in this lesson's list. Read each of the words below and guess at what it means. (Say the meaning to yourself, or write it down.) Then click the word to check your answer.
| propensity | inclination, tendency |
| wight | a living being; a creature |
| onerous | troublesome, burdensome |
| ingratiating | pleasing and agreeable in manner |
| pedagogue | a schoolteacher; an educator |
| portentous | giving a sense of evil or approaching misfortune; foreboding |
| caprices | sudden, unpredictable changes of mind |
| pensive | engaged in deep, serious thought |
| impunity | exemption from punishment or harm |
| pertinacious | extremely persistent or unyielding |
How is each of these words used in the context of a story? Read each passage below. Then select the word that belongs in the blank. Click the Lookup button if you're not sure what any word means.
In Washington Irving's day, the work of a ________ paid poorly: A country schoolteacher often had to rely on students' families for lodging and meals.
- caprices
- wight
- propensity
- pedagogue
sudden, unpredictable changes of mind
a living being; a creature
inclination, tendency
a schoolteacher; an educator
Nice Job!
You most likely wouldn't use a word this formal to refer to your math teacher.
Dependent on his pupils' families for support, Ichabod Crane made himself useful so that his presence wouldn't seem ________.
- onerous
- ingratiating
- portentous
- pertinacious
troublesome, burdensome
pleasing and agreeable in manner
giving a sense of evil or approaching misfortune; foreboding
extremely persistent or unyielding
Nice Job!
Hate cleaning out the garage? This word could be used to describe your least favorite chore.
His _________ manner led the families to believe that he was a pleasant, kindly fellow.
- onerous
- ingratiating
- portentous
- pertinacious
troublesome, burdensome
pleasing and agreeable in manner
giving a sense of evil or approaching misfortune; foreboding
extremely persistent or unyielding
Nice Job!
This word describes a calculated effort to make oneself pleasing.
Humans are just one kind of creature: A dolphin or an elephant could be called a _________, too.
- pensive
- wight
- pertinacious
- pedagogue
engaged in deep, serious thought
a living being; a creature
extremely persistent or unyielding
a schoolteacher; an educator
Nice Job!
Although this word may be used to describe a person, it is more general than "human."
In Washington Irving's story, many young men are disappointed by the _________ of Katrina, the pretty and somewhat spoiled daughter of a farmer.
- caprices
- impunity
- propensity
- pedagogue
sudden, unpredictable changes of mind
exemption from punishment or harm
inclination, tendency
a schoolteacher; an educator
Nice Job!
A friend who backs out of plans at the last minute could be considered guilty of these.
Trembling at the thought of ghosts, Ichabod imagines that he sees _________ sights and hears eerie sounds.
- pensive
- ingratiating
- portentous
- pertinacious
engaged in deep, serious thought
pleasing and agreeable in manner
giving a sense of evil or approaching misfortune; foreboding
extremely persistent or unyielding
Nice Job!
This word describes a frightening kind of warning.
In joyful expectation of a party at Katrina's home, the normally strict Ichabod allows his students to coast through their lessons with __________.
- pedagogue
- impunity
- propensity
- wight
a schoolteacher; an educator
exemption from punishment or harm
inclination, tendency
a living being; a creature
Nice Job!
The Latin root of this word means literally "unpunished."
Mario's _________ mood gave him a dreamy, far-off look as he stared distractedly into space.
- pensive
- onerous
- portentous
- pertinacious
engaged in deep, serious thought
troublesome, burdensome
giving a sense of evil or approaching misfortune; foreboding
extremely persistent or unyielding
Nice Job!
This word could be used to describe someone with a heavy problem on her mind.
With his __________ to fill his stomach at any opportunity, Ichabod relished the treats at Katrina's family's party.
- pedagogue
- pensive
- propensity
- wight
a schoolteacher; an educator
engaged in deep, serious thought
inclination, tendency
a living being; a creature
Nice Job!
This word may describe either a positive or a negative tendency.
If you are __________ in your efforts, you have an excellent chance to win a spot on the swim team.
- pensive
- propensity
- pedagogue
- pertinacious
engaged in deep, serious thought
inclination, tendency
a schoolteacher; an educator
extremely persistent or unyielding
Nice Job!
This word comes from the Latin tenere, "to hold."
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
Think you have these words figured out? Try matching the description on each flashcard to one of the words in the box. Once you think you know the word that is described on each card, click the card to check your answer.
foreboding
portentous
thoughtful
pensive
tendency
propensity
sudden whims
caprices
freedom from punishment
impunity
teacher
pedagogue
stubbornly unyielding
pertinacious
troublesome
onerous
pleasantly agreeable
ingratiating
living creature
wight
Summary
Correct:
Incorrect:
| propensity | wight | onerous | ingratiating | pedagogue |
| portentous | caprices | pensive | impunity | pertinacious |
