leepy Hollow_ and _Rip
Van Winkle_ before entering the high school, and know something about
Washington Irving. To enjoy the other sketches fully one should know
well the man who wrote them, for they are strongly personal. The reader
is to travel with Irving, to see things with his eyes, and to consider
subjects with his good sense and fine taste. One way to approach the
task of teaching the _Sketch-Book_, then, is to assign for re-reading,
or at least for review, the two stories mentioned above, and to awaken a
lively interest in the genial man who wrote them. This may involve
reversing the usual method of studying the author last.

_Washington Irving_ by Charles Dudley Warner, in the American Men of
Letters Series, and _The Life and Letters of Washington Irving_ by
Pierre Irving will furnish abundant and interesting material for both
teacher and student.

What do we know of Irving's parentage? his characteristics as a boy? his
education? his first trip to England? his travels? his friends? his
habits? his return from abroad? his military experience? his first
literary ventures? his long stay in Europe? his literary successes? his
great reception on his return to New York? his life at Sunnyside? his
public services?

II. Reading and Study

These sketches should not be read hurriedly but thoughtfully and, as far
as time will permit, aloud in class. They contain many fine descriptions
which should be used, with the aid of questions and composition
exercises, to keep alert the imagination of the pupils. The following
are a few of the topics that might be used for oral or written work:

_The Author's Account of Himself_

The author's choice of facts. (Why he chose these and did not choose
others.)

The charm of travel in America and in Europe--a comparison and a
contrast.

_The Voyage_

What Irving has omitted in the account of his voyage.

An imaginative sketch of Irving as he may have appeared to one of his
fellow-passengers. (Base the sketch on what Irving says that he did and
saw.)

Descriptive features in the last four paragraphs.

An original account of some voyage.

_The Christmas Sketches_

Irving's purpose in these papers.

The Christmas spirit in England.

Travelling by stage coach.

The coachman--a character sketch.

The coachman at the inn-yard--a description.

Irving's fellow-travelers.

Irving--a sketch by one of the travelers.

Arrival at Bracebridge Hall.

The squire-