The Reliability of the Narrator in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The art of narration is a skill that differentiates authors who deliver credible nd valid information from those who lack credibility. The essence of this argument comes from the realization that there is a debate between the authenticity of the information presented by either an unreliable and or reliable narrator. It is worth noting that by focusing on week eight reading, the Washington Irving is reliable narrator as the details covered are authentic.

            The core concept one gets from the reading is that the narrator tries to set a distance between them and the implied author. The truth that is communicated is fictional in essence so that there is a classical style of standard English used for communication. The author uses words of English that have been respected for a long time in history. For example, it is stated that “Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson must remember the Kaatskill mountains” week 8 page 197. The use of the word voyage implies a long journey and the usage of the term was common in the ancient times. The realization that the author uses the word makes sense of its credibility over the centuries (Irving 197).

            The other critical element that makes the author a reliable storyteller is the fact that there is an observer-narrator status that is used all along. The author describes evens but he deliberately ensures that he exempts himself from the scene as he assumes the role of an observer in the external context. While it is not possible to impede the truthful account of the narration, the reliability is maintained based on the position that the author assumes. A significant illustration is when the author states that ”A personal tragedy, however, changed his course for a time; the death of his fiancée, Matilda Hoffman” week 8 page 195). It follows that the author wanted to describe the tragedy but distances himself from it to ensure that there not bias.

            The last justification to affirm that the text is based on a reliable narrator’s account is the consideration of the ethical maturity in the description. It is affirmed that the text combines both vast knowledge and professional presentation so affirm the asset of maturity in the writing. For example, the detailed account such as that by the statement that ”From 1826 to 1829 he was in Spain on diplomatic business” imply that the author is informed (week 8 page 195). The importance of such referencing is that the reader can determine the authenticity of the data presented as it is an account that can be traced.

In summary, it is worth noting that the author is reliable based on the way the data is presented and the position that is taken. It is implied that not only does the author distance themselves, but they also make use of classical English language and demonstrate vastness in professionalism and knowledge. It is thus affirmed that based on the justification presented, the author is a reliable narrator.

Works Cited

Irving, Washington. ”Week Eight: Reason and Revolution Part III / The Romantic, the Real and the American Indian.” LITR 220 n. pag. Print.