The Devil and Tom Walker

Tom Walker's reaction to his wife's disappearance and death is one of relief and indifference. He is not saddened by her loss, and he is more concerned with the valuables she took with her. Tom even...

"The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving exemplifies Romanticism through its use of the supernatural, emphasis on nature, and focus on individual emotions over reason. The story, inspired by...

"The Devil and Tom Walker" teaches that unrestrained greed and malice lead to misery and downfall. Tom Walker's insatiable greed drives him to make a pact with the devil, gaining wealth through cruel...

Tom Walker's occupation is initially unclear, as he appears to have no significant source of income. However, after making a deal with the devil, Tom becomes a usurer, a money lender charging high...

Satire in "The Devil and Tom Walker" includes Irving's allusion to the Great Awakening, mocking the superficial repentance of sinners. He also subtly critiques racism by describing the devil in a way...

"The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving creates a mood that fluctuates between ominous and humorous. Initially, the story sets a dark, foreboding atmosphere with descriptions of a sinful,...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," the house symbolizes decay and moral corruption, reflecting Tom's and his wife's greed. The swamp represents the murky, treacherous path of moral compromise. Darkness...

The rotted trees in the forest symbolize individuals who appear outwardly prosperous but are morally corrupt. In "The Devil and Tom Walker," these trees, marked with names like Deacon Peabody and...

Tom's statement, "the devil take me if I have made a farthing," is ironic because, while he denies profiting from his usurious actions, the devil literally claims him shortly after. This dramatic...

Irving's critique of slavery in "The Devil and Tom Walker" is subtle but clear. He condemns the moral corruption and greed associated with slavery, illustrating it as an evil practice. Through Tom...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," Washington Irving uses dark and foreboding imagery to create a mood of gloom and malevolence. Descriptions of the swamp, the old Indian fort, and the devil himself...

Tom's possessions disappear or get destroyed to emphasize the moral consequences of his actions and his pact with the devil. The destruction symbolizes that his wealth, acquired through unethical...

The trees in “The Devil and Tom Walker” symbolize unrepentant sinners who are condemned to hell if they don't see the error of their ways. Old Scratch shows Tom the trees in the forest that appear to...

The Walkers' house and horse symbolize their miserly and greedy nature. The house is described as forlorn and decaying, reflecting the couple's lack of care and warmth. Similarly, their starved horse...

Tom Walker is depicted as miserly, greedy, and morally corrupt, willing to make a deal with the devil for wealth. His wife shares similar traits, being equally greedy and selfish, but she is also...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," the stranger is known by various names, including "Old Scratch," a common term for the devil. He introduces himself to Tom as the "Wild Huntsman," the "Black Miner,"...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," metaphors include the description of Tom's wife as a "tall termagant," symbolizing her aggressive nature, and the trees chopped by the devil, which are outwardly...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," Washington Irving uses descriptive language and diction to create a dark, foreboding atmosphere. He employs vivid imagery and specific word choices to depict the eerie...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," when Tom begins to regret his agreement to sell his soul to the devil, he begins to attend church and carry his Bible with him everywhere. He also is rumored to have...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," the devil's signature is a black fingerprint scorched into Tom Walker's forehead. This mark signifies Tom's pact with the devil, symbolizing his moral corruption and...

Tom Walker's house is described as forlorn and starving, reflecting the miserly and isolated nature of its occupants. It stands alone with a few barren trees and never has a fire in the hearth,...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," we can infer from the scenes in the swamp and of Tom's home and churchgoing that he is a callous, greedy, empty, and hypocritical person who will end up in hell. The...

The climax of "The Devil and Tom Walker" occurs when the Devil arrives to claim Tom Walker's soul after Tom, in a moment of arrogance, challenges his fate. The resolution follows when Tom is taken...

Washington Irving's "The Devil and Tom Walker" serves as a cautionary tale highlighting the dangers of greed and the moral pitfalls of valuing wealth above all else. Aimed at a broad audience, the...

Mrs. Walker's two main sins are greed and wrath. Her disappearance after meeting the devil may signify the consequences of her sinful nature. The left-behind heart and liver, found by Tom, could...

The devil's "Everyman" quality in "The Devil and Tom Walker" is highlighted by his ambiguous racial features and ordinary demeanor. He is described as swarthy and soot-covered, resembling a common...

In Washington Irving's "The Devil and Tom Walker," the setting plays a crucial role in establishing the supernatural elements of the story. Set in early 18th-century New England, near Boston, the...

Mrs. Walker is driven by greed and a desire for wealth, which ultimately leads to her tragic end. Her emotions are marked by frustration and anger over her husband's refusal to make a deal with the...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," the woodsman, who is the devil known as Old Scratch, marks trees with the names of community members who have sold their souls to him in exchange for wealth. These...

The Gothic elements in "The Devil and Tom Walker" include the setting of the ruined Indian fort, which symbolizes the decay of human works and is isolated within a foreboding swamp. This isolation...

Kidd the Pirate is significant in "The Devil and Tom Walker" as his buried treasure symbolizes greed and moral corruption. The story mentions that Kidd's treasure is hidden under a gigantic tree in a...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," comments about earthquakes suggest they are perceived as divine punishment, implying that God uses them to bring sinners to repentance. This belief reflects the local...

The Walkers' home in "The Devil and Tom Walker" reflects their miserly and contentious personalities. The house is described as forlorn and dilapidated, mirroring their lack of warmth and moral...

Washington Irving Americanizes "The Devil and Tom Walker" by setting it in New England and incorporating American folklore elements like the legend of Captain Kidd's treasure. Thematically, the story...

Tom initially refuses the Devil's deal primarily due to his resentment towards his wife, who has caused him significant distress. Although tempted by the wealth of Kidd the pirate, Tom's desire to...

The swamp in "The Devil and Tom Walker" is depicted as melancholy through its inherent gloom and complexity. Descriptions include dark, towering pines that block sunlight, creating a dim, isolated...

The setting in the first paragraph of "The Devil and Tom Walker" is best described as ominous, ancient, and tempting. The "thickly wooded" area with "gigantic trees" in a "dark grove" creates an...

Tom represents a "Sunday Christian," someone who displays outward piety while living sinfully during the week. His religion is characterized by words like "loudly," "strenuously," and "clamour,"...

The setting during Tom Walker's shortcut home is a treacherous swamp, overgrown and dark even at midday. The area is filled with gloomy pines and hemlocks, reaching over ninety feet, and the ground...

Tom Walker's response to the Devil reveals his fearless and brazen character, as he is neither shocked nor afraid, contrasting with the typical reaction to such an encounter. His lack of fear and...

The "black man" in "The Devil and Tom Walker" is actually the Devil, also known as Old Scratch. He is described as a dark-skinned man with coarse black hair, wearing a red sash, and carrying an axe....

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," darkness symbolizes unknown and unbridled evil. The dark woods represent the unexplored and feared frontier, filled with superstitions of evil, including the Devil's...

The archetype in "The Devil and Tom Walker" is the Faustian bargain. This archetype involves making a deal with the devil, promising wealth or power in exchange for one's soul or morality, ultimately...

"The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving explores themes of greed, moral corruption, and the transient nature of material wealth. The transformations in the story, such as wealth turning to...

Revolutionary-era people would like "The Devil and Tom Walker" because of mentions of important historical topics.

Tom Walker's wife in "The Devil and Tom Walker" symbolizes greed through her miserly behavior and desire for wealth. She is depicted as unable to share even basic things with her husband and is...

When he is "come for," Tom's small Bible is in his coat pocket and his big Bible is on his desk. It is significant that his Bibles are in these locations because they are both out of reach when he...

In "The Devil and Tom Walker," the devil cutting down trees for firewood symbolizes the souls of men. Each tree bears the name of a person, representing individuals whose souls are claimed by the...

The quoted sentence characterizes Tom's wife as argumentative and physically abusive. She comes across as as cruel, violent, and extremely prone to conflict.

The tree struck by lightning in "The Devil and Tom Walker" was a hemlock tree. In the story, these trees in the "thickly wooded swamp" have names of individuals engraved on them, marking those who...