The Devil and Tom Walker page 318 By Washington Irving

Quick Check Reading Quiz 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. Bonus: What color was Tom’s glasses?

1. skull with a tomahawk buried in it 2. Old Scratch; finger imprint burned on his forehead 3. heart and liver tied in a apron 4. slave trader 5. carried a Bible in his coat pocket; Bible on his countinghouse desk that he would read when people came in for business Bonus: green (color of money)

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

Washington Irving traveled extensively in Europe defended himself against the accusation that he was “un-American” because of his European travels first American writer to achieve an international reputation  

Folk tales handed down orally anonymous relate events that are unrealistic or unlikely to happen in the real world teach a lesson or express a general truth about life characters tend to be stereotypical

stereotype A flat character who represents a collection of traits and mannerisms supposedly shared by all members of a group Nagging wife Battered husband Self-serving man Man selling his soul to the devil

Satire a literary technique that ridicules people, customs, or institutions with the purpose of improving society. Satire is often subtle. Indicators of satire include humor, exaggeration, absurd situations, and irony. Marriage Expectation that characters will be heroes Social institutions fostering greed Impermanence of wealth

Topic: Statement Message Women   “The lonely wayfarer shrunk within himself at the horrid clamor and clapper-clawing; eyed the den of discord askance; and hurried on his way, rejoicing, if a bachelor, in his celibacy.” (lines 35-37) It is better not to marry than to marry a woman who argues and fights. The Puritan attitude “Since the red men have been exterminated by you white savages, I amuse myself by presiding at the persecutions of Quakers and Anabaptists.” (lines 115-117) The Puritans are hypocritical in their treatment of other groups. The slave trade “This, however, Tom resolutely refused; he was bad enough in all conscience; but the devil himself could not tempt him to turn slave trader.” (lines 226-227) Slave trading is worse than any of the devil’s other amusements. Moneylenders “In proportion to the distress of the applicant was the hardness of his terms. He accumulated bonds and mortgages; gradually squeezed his customers closer and closer; and sent them at length, dry as a sponge, from the door.” (lines 265-268) Moneylenders take cruel advantage of those most in need.

Romantic elements 1. Profound love of nature (through extensive description/imagery)   2. Interest in the past or things of old (long, long ago…) 3. Picturesque/Exotic/Pastoral settings (remote settings: countryside, forests—far, far away…) 4. Focus on self/individual 5. Presence of the gothic, supernatural, or mysterious 6. Passionate Nationalism/love of country

Purpose The purpose of a folktale is to not only entertain but, give its readers a lesson to walk away with. There are two main lessons in "The Devil and Tom Walker." 1. The main jest of the folktale is what happens to people who are too greedy. Tom, who is so stingy that he won't even feed his own horse pays the price at the end of the folktale by going to hell. 2. This also leads to the second lesson which is be careful what you ask for because you might get it, just as Tom did when he asked for the devil to take him and the "Black man" showed up at this door.

QUIZ Tomorrow, Jan. 12th Vocabulary words—persecution, usurer, speculating, ostentation, censurer, melancholy, avarice, propitious Four written response questions 20 multiple choice questions