The Devil and Tom Walker
Washington Irving
• Objective: Students will read “The Devil and
Tom Walker” in order to examine romantic
story
• Warm-up: What does it mean to make a deal
with the devil? Have you seen any stories like
this before? Describe.
Washington Irving
Take notes and create 6 bullet points on Irving’s
short biography on p.341 and 362
Build Background (349).
“The Devil and Tom Walker” is based on which
older story?
Vocabulary
• Define the vocabulary words for this story.
• Complete Vocabulary in Action (361)
Analogies
1.
Abode – dwelling place; home
Cottage– Place to live; home
(synonyms)
2. Singular– one; unique
Ordinary– Average; not special
(antonyms)
3. Piety– holiness; reverence for God
Nun– In Christianity, a woman who has taken vows to serve God
( B has A; A nun has piety)
4. Dolefully—mournfully; sadly
Grieve– cry
(One does B in an A way;)
5. Ostentation— bold, extravagant
Flaunt-- Show off,
Those that B have the quality of A)
A Faustian Bargain
• What do you think it means to make a
Faustian bargain?
Forms of imagery (with examples)
Visual imagery is perhaps the most frequently used form.
The crimson liquid spilled from the neck of the white dove, staining and matting its pure, white
feathers.
Auditory imagery represents a sound.
The bells chimed 2 o'clock and Daniel got ready for school.
Onomatopoeia: a word that makes a sound.
Kinesthetic imagery represents movement
as in Wordsworth's poem Daffodils: "tossing their heads in sprightly dance"
Olfactory imagery represents a smell.
John’s socks, still soaked with sweat from Tuesday's P.E. class, filled the classroom with an aroma akin
to that of salty, week-old, rotting fish.
Gustatory imagery represents a taste.
The sweet marinara sauce makes up for the bland sea-shell pasta that Jeffrey served.
Tumbling through the ocean water after being overtaken by the monstrous wave, Mark
unintentionally took a gulp of the briny, bitter mass, causing him to cough and gag.
Tactile imagery represents touch.
Jane dug her feet into the wet sand, burying her toes inside the beach as cold waves lapped at her
ankles.
The clay oozed between Jeremy's fingers as he let out a squeal of pure glee
Characterization
• What kind of guy is Tom Walker? Tom’s wife?
The Devil?
• Give specific quotes from the text to support
your answer.
Name
Tom
Wife
Devil/ Ol’ Scratch
What kind of
character?
Evidence of
character
Tom
Miserly- “…left the greater part of it unfinished.”
Sneaky- “Her husband was continually prying
about to detect her secret hoards.”
Dishonest- “The devil take me if I have not
made a farthing.”
Wife
Bossy- “Her voice was often heard in wordy warfare with
her husband.”
“She urged her husband to comply [with the
devil].”
Stubborn- “She determined to drive bargain on her own
account.”
“Tom’s wife was a termagant; fierce of temper, loud of
tongue and strong of arm.”
Mean- see above.
Miserly- “He had a wife as miserly as himself.”
Greedy
Devil
Tricky- “In place of gold and silver his iron chest
was filled with chips and shaving.”
UnthoughtfulMeanHonest-
Symbolism
A symbol is something that represents or
suggests something else.
What do you think the great tree scored with
the name of Deacon Peabody and “fair and
flourishing without, but rotten at the core”
represents?
Narrator (Literary Analysis, 360)
• What seems to be the narrator’s attitude
toward the events of the story? What does
Irving gain by using this type of narrator rather
than having Tom relate the events?
Exercises (360)
• Complete questions 1-8 and Comprehension
Check
Imagery
Locate imagery and discuss how it supports
characterization, plot or theme.
 Description of the trees
 Description of Tom’s search for his wife.
 Description of Tom’s house.
 Description of Tom’s being carried off by the
devil.
Elements of Romanticism/Themes of the Story
• Romantic tale of the common man – strong emphasis on
strong morals (good vs. evil)
• Legend/Folklore/Supernatural elements – use of imagination
• Making a deal with the Devil – the nature of greed is a major
theme – what is your price? (Greed)
• Hypocrisy - is the act of preaching a certain belief, religion or
way of life, but not, in fact, holding these same virtues
oneself.
• Swamp/Wooded area of nature – the place where Tom and
his wife must confront the nature of their own beings and
moral make-up
Quick Check Reading Quiz – 15 points
1.) What does Tom accidentally dig up with his walking staff while
resting at the old Indian fort?
2.) What name does Tom call the devil, and what is the devil’s
signature?
3.) What did Tom find (be VERY SPECIFIC! Not just one thing)
when he went to look for his wife?
4.) What was the one term/thing that Tom would not agree to
(when making his deal with the devil) because it went against
his conscience?
5.) Name two things that Tom did in his old age to alleviate the
anxiety that he had about the deal he made with the devil.