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)

Analogies1. 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 What kind of

character?Evidence of character

Tom

Wife

Devil/ Ol’ Scratch

TomMiserly- “…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.”Unthoughtful- Mean- Honest-

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 points1.) 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.