Then I saw him, ambling toward us. My heart danced like never before. This young man was eons from the warty old toad we'd imagined. He couldn't have been more than three years older than us. And with his waistcoat unfastened and white cambric shirt rolled at the cuffs, he hardly seemed the teacher sort. . . .

Question

As we grew closer, his mouth curved into an endearing smile. "Good afternoon," he called to us.
"Good afternoon," we returned.
Up close proved even better. His dark hair fell in wisps, framing his angelic face. His smiling lips accentuated the dimple on his cheek. And his eyes—Those eyes!—as green as our meadow, shimmering with morning dew.
Elise practically stumbled, pushing in front of me.
"You must be Ichabod Crane. I'm Elise Jansen."
From Dax Varley, Sleepy Hollow. Copyright 2013 by Dax Varley
The previous text suggested that Crane was not a good-looking man. How does this retelling of a short story build on or challenge that idea?
it suggest crane was young and attractive.
it illustrates that crane didn't care about his looks.
it shows that crane's appearance was frightening.

Answer 1

The retelling of the short story builds on the idea that Ichabod Crane is not the warty old toad that the characters had imagined. Instead, it presents him as a young and attractive man, with descriptions emphasizing his appealing features—such as his dark hair, angelic face, dimpled smile, and striking green eyes. This portrayal challenges the original notion of Crane's appearance by suggesting that he is indeed attractive and charming, making a notable departure from the traditional depiction of him as an unattractive character.

So, the correct answer to how this retelling challenges the idea of Crane's appearance is: it suggests Crane was young and attractive.