“THE DEVILAND

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 CHARACTERIZATIO

NTHE WRITER REVEALS ACHARACTER THROUGH THE CHARACTER’S WORDS AND ACTIONS AND THROUGH WHAT OTHER CHARACTERS THINK, AND

SAY ABOUT THAT CHARACTER.

PREDICTINGIS MAKING AN EDUCATED GUESS ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A STORY. PREDCITNG HELPS TO ANTICIPATE EVENTS, AND APPRECIATE LESS OBVIOUS PARTS OF A STORY.

SUMMARYONE 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 ELEMENTIN 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.