“THE DEVIL
AND
TOM WALKER”
BY
WASHINGTON IRVING
CHARACTERIZATION
REFERS TO THE METHODS A
WRITER USES TO REVEAL THE
PERSONALITY OF A
CHARACTER.
DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION
THE WRITER MAKES EXPLICIT
STATEMENTS ABOUT A
CHARACTER.
INDIRECT
CHARACTERIZATION
THE WRITER REVEALS A
CHARACTER THROUGH THE
CHARACTER’S WORDS AND
ACTIONS AND THROUGH WHAT
OTHER CHARACTERS THINK, AND
SAY ABOUT THAT CHARACTER.
PREDICTING
IS MAKING AN EDUCATED
GUESS ABOUT WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IN A STORY.
PREDCITNG HELPS TO
ANTICIPATE EVENTS, AND
APPRECIATE LESS OBVIOUS
PARTS OF A STORY.
SUMMARY
ONE DAY, THE DEVIL OFFERS
TOM WALKER A PIRATE’S
TREASURE. WHEN TOM’S
GREEDY WIFE URGES HIM TO
ACCEPT THE DEAL, HE
REFUSES OUT OF SPITE.
THE WIFE TRIES TO MAKE HER
OWN BARGAIN WITH THE
DEVIL, BUT SHE DISAPPEARS.
TOM THEN ACCEPTS THE
DEVIL’S OFFER AND BECOMES
A RICH MONEY-LENDER WHO
PREYS ON THOSE IN NEED.
WHEN A BORROWER ASKS
TOM FOR AN EXTENSION ON A
LOAN, HE REPLIES, “THE DEVIL
TAKE ME IF I HAVE MADE A
FARTHING.” THE DEVIL WHISKS
TOM AWAY, AND HIS RICHES
TURN TO CINDERS.
LITERARY ELEMENT
IN 1695, THE KING OF ENGLAND
COMMISSIONED CAPTAIN
WILLIAM KIDD TO ARREST ALL
PIRATES IN THE EASTERN SEAS.
WHEN KIDD ARRIVED AT THE
COMORO ISLANDS, HOWEVER, HE
JOINED THE PIRATES INSTEAD OF
HUNTING THEM.
POWER OF DARKNESS
IRVING’S DESCRIPTIONS
REFLECT ROMANTICISM’S
INTEREST IN EXOTIC SETTINGS:
IRVING’S DESCRIPTION SHOWS
NATURE IN ITS WILDEST, MOST
EXOTIC STATE. HIS CHOICE OF
AN INDIAN FORT AS A PART OF
THE SETTING ALSO REVEALS
HIS INTEREST IN THE EXOTIC.