The Devil and tom walker

1. The Devil and tom walker Washington Irving

2. A Tall Tale “The Devil and Tom Walker is a tall tale, a type of folklore associated with the American frontier. Tall tales are humorous stories that contain exaggerations and invention. Typically, their heroes are bold but foolish characters who may have superhuman abilities or who act as if they do. Tall tales are not intended to be believable; their exaggerations are used for comic effect. When Irving writes that Tom “had lived so long with a termagant wife that he did not even fear the devil,” he stretched the truth to gain a laugh.

3. Romanticism Age of Reason – 1700’s everything had a logical, scientific explanation. Emphasized reason and societal values. Early 1800’s - Romanticism begins as reaction to the Age of Reason. Personal intuition, instincts valued over reason and society Focus on the specific Value placed on the unique Abolitionists Wanted to expose religious hypocrisy Valued nature Interested in the supernatural

4. Transcendentalism Valued individuality Non-conformist Civil disobedience Emerson and Thoreau are fathers of movement Solitude

5. Writers of the Romantic and Transcendentalist movements Washington Irving - named after president, 1st Am. Writer, wanted international fame, was in exporting business. Wrote “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” “Rip Van Winkle,” and “The Devil and Tom Walker.” - A U.S. diplomat, he studied law for 6 years Ralph Waldo Emerson - Poet who grew up poor, but attended Harvard at age14. Born in Boston, MA, and studied ministry – his father was a minister. - Doubted religion due to wife’s death – resigned ministry - Died at age 79 Henry David Thoreau Born in Concord, MA, and died at the age of 45. He graduated from Harvard at age 20. He was a careful observer and deep thinker. He wore a green sport coat instead black as was required at Harvard. Wrote “Walden” – about his experiment living in a small cabin in the woods by himself He was an abolitionist and wrote “Civil Disobedience” about non-violent protest.

6. About the Story "The Devil and Tom Walker" is a short story by Washington Irving that first appeared in his 1824 collection of stories titled Tales of a Traveller. The story is about a man, Tom Walker, who sells his soul to the Devil in order to obtain wealth. He later regrets this decision when he has to suffer the consequences.

7. Romantic Elements Love of nature/details about swamp Tom wants nothing to do with slave trade (abolitionist) Fascination with supernatural-town is not surprised and acts as if it is normal for Tom to be a ghost riding on horseback and the devil showing up.

8. Romantic Elements Specificity-very close attention to detail in swamp description Deacon Peabody (church figure) is depicted as a hypocrite. Also, Tom’s change toward religion is obviously for purely selfish reasons, so he, too, is a hypocrite. (Anti-Puritan)

9. Romantic Elements Love of Solitude-Tom likes to walk alone. He also is not upset when his wife dies, leaving him alone. Non-conformist-Tom is not afraid of the devil as most people would be

10. Allusions of note. Captain William Kidd (c.1645 – 1701). 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 down.

11. The current Financial Crisis comes at the heels of a financial boom. Massive speculation in the real estate market was part of the problem, along with credit swaps and other crafty ways wall street traders found to make money. A Reflection of the Times “In a word, the great speculating fever which breaks out every now and then in the country, had raged to an alarming degree, and every body was dreaming of making sudden fortunes from nothing. As usual the fever had subsided; the dream had gone off, and the imaginary fortunes with it; the patients were left in doleful plight, and the whole country resounded with the consequent cry of “hard times.”

12. What would you do if you were told where buried treasure was? Would you hunt for it? Would you keep it secret? Would you share your gains? Literary Criticism According to the critic Eugene Current-Garcia, “The Devil and Tom Walker” achieves stark imagery that transforms such commonplace American activities as money lending, timber cutting, and treasure hunting. . . Into grotesque emblems of spiritual deprivation, emotional sterility, hypocrisy and lovelessness.” Do you agree? Pair Share with the person next to you.

13. The Cost of Borrowing: What kind of living would Tom Walker earn today as a moneylender? Hypothesize based upon a home estimated at $300,000.00. You need a $100,000.00 loan, at 6.0% interest over the course of 30 years. Factor in property tax at 1.5%. You would pay : Monthly Payment of $599.55 $115,838.19 towards interest First payment: $500.00 goes toward interest, $99.55 towards the loan. Toms New Business Dealings What business does Tom go into? What makes this possible, and what makes this such a good time to go into business?

14. Vocabulary • Prevalent: adj. widespread • Discord: n. lack of agreement or harmony; conflict • Impregnable: adj. incapable of being taken by force; able to resist attack • Melancholy: adj. depressing; dismal; gloomy • Surmise: v. to infer from little or no evidence; guess • Obliterate: v. to remove all traces of; erase • Speculate: v. to engage in risky business ventures, hoping to make quick profits • Parsimony: n. Excessive frugality; stinginess • And stagnant, precarious, avarice, resolute, superfluous