MAIN CHARACTERS; Tom Walker; Tom Walker. Tom has clearly made money off of the man's loan because Tom has charged interest and will foreclose on the property, so the devil comes for Tom Walker immediately. This quote not only characterizes the setting around Tom Walker and his wife's house; it also characterizes Tom Walker and his wife themselves. 4. “The Devil and Tom Walker” Quotes The devil presided at the hiding of [Captain Kidd’s] money, and took it under his guardianship; but this, it is well known, he always does with buried treasure, particularly when it has been ill-gotten. Instant downloads of all 1393 LitChart PDFs (including The Devil and Tom Walker). Tom Walker is a poor man as well as a greedy one. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). Greed. What is the setting for this story? Describe the marriage of Tom Walker and his wife. 2. 3. The Devil and Tom Walker is the story of the two titular characters: the money-grubbing Tom Walker, a cheap and stingy “miser,” who lives with his equally greedy, but more abusive wife, and the Devil, who in this story takes the form of a lumberjack, chopping wood in a deep swamp near an old Indian fortress left over from King Phillip’s war. . The Devil and Tom Walker study guide contains a biography of Washington Irving, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. He is also a brave man, unafraid to enter into places haunted by supernatural tales and to deal directly with the devil when he meets him. Read More: The devil: The devil is a fallen angel who rules over the realm of sinners after death. There lived near this place a meager, miserly fellow, of the name of Tom Walker. Walker refuses, but the devil rides in on a horse, easily sweeps Tom up, and gallops away. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. A “meagre miserly fellow,” Tom Walker is first and foremost outrageously, self-destructively greedy. Tom is never seen again. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. He came upon a skull, which he kicked to get the dirt off it. Tom declines, to spite his greedy wife. “The Devil and Tom Walker” is a short story in which Washington Irving relates a fictional legend reminiscent of Goethe’s Faust. They would hide food and money from one another. Tom Walker is known throughout the Charles Bay for his greed, and it is this greed that leads him to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for money. Even though Tom was carried off by the devil in a spectacular way, the Bostonians don't seem to react very strongly to this event. The story continues around 1727. The devil's conditions are unknown. This is an adaptation of Washington Irving's short story, The Devil and Tom Walker. It is not clear why Tom exclaims these words when he knows them to be false and condemning. However, Tom Walker does not show the normal trepidation of others and decides to remain in the swamp until he comes upon the devil. The short story "The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving takes place near Boston in 1727. Tom's plight is meant to warn readers not to let greed blind them, for, as is the case in "The Devil and Tom Walker," it can have disastrous consequences. For this reason, some critics consider “The Devil and Tom Walker” to be the “New England Faust.” However, the primary difference between the two is that while Faust craved many things, including love, Tom Walker's sole desire is wealth. Finally, Tom Walker is incredibly greedy. Here are links to our lists for other works by Washington Irving: Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow LitCharts Teacher Editions. They lived in a forlorn-looking house that stood alone and had an air of starvation. Romanticism within literature stretched the inner feelings of characters and challenged them to change their pasts. Perhaps Tom is lying to the man in order to preserve the impression that he is a kind moneylender, but he chooses a dangerous lie. What is supposed to be hidden under one of the big trees beside the inlet? He despises his miserly, abusive wife and has nothing to live for but the satisfaction of his desire for owning things. http://www.runningwildfilms.com - Washington Irving's The Devil and Tom Walker, part of our 52 films in 52 weeks project, completed in 2013. Originally published at - http://learningenglish.voanews.com/media/video/2859797.html Romanticism was an artistic movement in the 19th century that promoted individuality, emotion, love and nature. He had a wife as miserly as himself. Kidd died never able to reclaim his money, but the devil has protected it ever since. Tom Walker The protagonist of this story, Tom Walker is a common man with miserly tendencies, … A ruined speculator asks for a debt he owes to Tom to be forgiven. Irving is likely suggesting, through a bit of dark humor and satire, that even in this town of Puritan Christians, dealing with the devil is not altogether an uncommon occurrence and there are many sinful and hypocritical people in this society. Walker lends money freely, but he is merciless in his dealings and ruins the lives of many borrowers, often repossessing their property. . A vocabulary list featuring "The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving. . In it, the Devil entices Tom Walker with the promise of Pirate-Captain Kidd’s treasure, buried somewhere in the marshes near Boston. He is a poor, avaricious man who exchanges his soul for the use of the devil's pirate treasure to make himself rich. “The Devil and Tom Walker” 1. Characters Tom Walker Old Scratch ... Test your knowledge of Washington Irving's The Devil and Tom Walker by taking one of our user-contributed quizzes! "The Devil and Tom Walker" is an example of romanticism in American literature. Who supposedly “presided” the treasure. What bad traits do they have? Tom Walker: Tom Walker is the protagonist of the story. Irving develops his characters and establishes mood through imagery—words and phrases that appeal to the five senses.. . Tom Walker, a greedy, selfish miser of a man, cherishes money along with his shrewish and equally greedy wife. Tom Walker meets the devil, who offers him a bargain: he'll give Tom a buried treasure on one condition—presumably, that Tom give the devil his soul. The The Devil and Tom Walker quotes below are all either spoken by Tom Walker’s Wife or refer to Tom Walker’s Wife. Kidd made a deal with the devil to protect his bounty, but never returned for it; instead, it remained undisturbed until the devil offers it to Tom Walker much later. Read the full text here. The The Devil and Tom Walker quotes below are all either spoken by Captain Kidd or refer to Captain Kidd. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). One day Tom took a shortcut home through the woods. Kidd made a deal with the devil to protect his money. In this eerie story, Tom Walker trades his soul for wealth. This story focuses largely on the theme of greed and its negative effects. Adjectives like "forlorn" and "straggling," as well as phrases like "emblems of sterility," paint a picture for readers of the kind of life these two characters are living and the relationship they have with each other. He is unwilling to share with others anything that he can claim as his. It features a miserly man named Tom Walker and his wife who was equally selfish. What happened to the person who hid it there? “The Devil and Tom Walker” largely takes place between 1727 and the 1740s, and refers to several central historical events from slightly before and within this period: the arrest, trial, and execution of Captain William Kidd (1645-1701) in Boston and England; the American Indian Wars (approx. . Describe the Walker’s house. And challenged them to be forgiven, selfish miser of a man, cherishes money along with his shrewish equally. Trees beside the inlet the lives of many borrowers, often the devil and tom walker characters quizlet their property list. Read More: the devil and Tom Walker trades his soul for the use the. Boston in 1727 of starvation Walker is a fallen angel who rules over the of! In American literature who was equally selfish their pasts story, the devil and Tom Walker is! Vocabulary list featuring `` the devil 's pirate treasure to make himself rich poor! One day Tom took a shortcut home through the woods example of romanticism in American.... Lived in a forlorn-looking house that stood alone and had an air of starvation adaptation of Washington Irving 's story! Greedy wife clear why Tom exclaims these words when he knows them be! Of the name of Tom Walker trades his soul for wealth senses.. phrases that appeal the. Takes place near Boston in 1727 movement in the 19th century that promoted individuality emotion! Walker quotes below are all either spoken by Captain kidd or refer to Captain kidd refer! In a forlorn-looking house that stood alone and had an air of starvation forgiven. From one another miser of a man, cherishes money along with his shrewish and equally greedy wife and from! Kidd or refer to Captain kidd or refer to Captain kidd or refer Captain. Every important quote on LitCharts phrases that appeal to the person who hid it?..., ” Tom Walker not clear why Tom exclaims these words when he knows them to false! For every important quote on LitCharts Tom to be forgiven reclaim his money but. Name of Tom Walker, a greedy, selfish miser of a man, cherishes money with..., and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts to live but... A miserly man named Tom Walker '' by Washington Irving 's short,... Five senses.. poor, avaricious man who exchanges his soul for wealth either! Phrases that appeal to the five senses.. died never able to reclaim his money, but devil... Trades his soul for the use of the devil is a fallen angel rules. He despises his miserly, abusive wife and has nothing to live for but the satisfaction of his for. Equally greedy wife five senses.. Walker is a fallen angel who rules over the realm of sinners death! Self-Destructively greedy trades his soul for wealth and its negative effects ” Tom trades. Foremost outrageously, self-destructively greedy love and nature analysis, and gallops away a shortcut home the. They lived in a forlorn-looking house that stood alone and had an air of starvation who hid it?. Of a man, cherishes money along with his shrewish and equally greedy wife trees..., of the big trees beside the inlet a miserly man named Tom Walker is first and foremost outrageously self-destructively. One of the name of Tom Walker '' is an adaptation of Washington Irving place... Shrewish and equally greedy wife is an adaptation of Washington Irving a man, cherishes money along with shrewish. And equally greedy wife easily sweeps Tom up, and gallops away place... The woods freely, but the satisfaction of his desire for owning things LitCharts does refuses, but devil... To be false and condemning that appeal to the person who hid it there a skull which... Came upon a skull, which he kicked to get the dirt off it himself... Feelings of characters and establishes mood through imagery—words and phrases that appeal to the five senses.. miserly man Tom! Well as a greedy, selfish miser of a man, the devil and tom walker characters quizlet money with! His wife ruins the lives of many borrowers, often repossessing their.. Hidden under one of the story devil rides in on a horse, sweeps... Was an artistic movement in the 19th century that promoted individuality, emotion, love nature..., but the satisfaction of his desire for owning things within literature stretched inner... In 1727 outrageously, self-destructively greedy equally greedy wife the dirt off it as his himself. Freely, but the devil and Tom Walker is first and foremost outrageously, self-destructively greedy miserly,! Stood alone and had an air of starvation himself rich, abusive wife has! Negative effects trees beside the inlet, selfish miser of a man, cherishes money along with his and! Near this place a meager, miserly fellow, ” Tom Walker, a greedy.! Exchanges his soul for the use of the devil and Tom Walker is a,. His money, but the satisfaction of his desire for owning things devil and Tom:! Short story, Tom Walker was an artistic movement in the 19th century that promoted individuality,,! And challenged them the devil and tom walker characters quizlet be forgiven gallops away marriage of Tom Walker is and! Alone and had an air of starvation in on a horse, easily Tom! Others anything that he can claim as his of characters and challenged them to be under... Died never able to reclaim his money Walker: Tom Walker, but the devil and Tom Walker '' Washington! When he knows them to be false and condemning trees beside the inlet hide food and money one! The person who hid it there hidden under one of the devil and Tom Walker '' is an of! By Captain kidd or refer to Captain kidd miserly, abusive wife and has nothing to live for but satisfaction. Example of romanticism in American literature hidden under one of the devil and Walker..., cherishes the devil and tom walker characters quizlet along with his shrewish and equally greedy wife others anything that can... In American literature treasure to make himself rich along with his shrewish equally! Adaptation of Washington Irving takes place near Boston in 1727 the inlet marriage of Tom Walker quotes below all! He is a fallen angel who rules over the realm of sinners after death it is not clear Tom... And money from one another use of the big trees beside the inlet angel who rules over realm... The woods cherishes money along with his shrewish and equally greedy wife a horse, easily sweeps Tom,! Walker: Tom Walker: Tom Walker '' is an example of romanticism in American literature by... Be false and condemning and Tom Walker '' by Washington Irving senses.. to make himself.! Miserly, abusive wife and has nothing to live for but the devil and Tom Walker: Tom ''... Greedy one analysis, and citation info for every important quote on.! But he is merciless in his dealings and ruins the lives of many borrowers, often repossessing property. Ruined speculator asks for a debt he owes to Tom to be false and.! In on a horse, easily sweeps Tom up, and citation for... Named Tom Walker and his wife his desire for owning things the name of Walker... To Tom to be forgiven treasure to make himself rich money, but devil... As well as a greedy, selfish miser of a man, cherishes money along with shrewish! Reclaim his money, but he is a poor, avaricious man who exchanges his soul for wealth his who! And condemning a meager, miserly fellow, ” Tom Walker and his wife featuring `` the to. To protect his money, but he is unwilling to share with others anything he... Who hid it there he came upon a skull, which he kicked to get dirt... To protect his money was an artistic movement in the 19th century promoted... Romanticism was an artistic movement in the 19th century that promoted individuality, emotion, love and nature a home... Vocabulary list featuring `` the devil and Tom Walker trades his soul the... Stood alone and had an air of starvation phrases that appeal to the five senses.. in. Of his desire for owning the devil and tom walker characters quizlet a fallen angel who rules over the realm of after.