In Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," what do the villagers think the headless horseman is doing out at night, and why is he in such a...

The
headless horseman in "" is the ghost of a Hessian soldier. Hessians were Germans who
were hired by the English to fight against the Americans in the Revolutionary War, and they had
the reputation for being fierce and ruthless fighters. Because the Hessians were on the enemy
side in the war and frightening warriors, it is no wonder the story of a
Hessian ghost on horseback would raise fear among the superstitious in Sleepy Hollow.

According to the legend, this Hessian had his head blown off by a cannonball "in
some nameless battle during the revolutionary war." The head rolled away, and therefore the
ghost rides out to the scene of the battle every night searching for his lost head. He has to
gallop away hurriedly before the sun rises because he is a ghost and can only come out at night.
The ghost earns the alliterative title of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.

Ichabod Crane, who loves fairy and ghost stories, particularly enjoys hearing this
tale told...