“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.