Imagery
As the poor land jobber begged Tom to grant a few months' indulgence, how was Tom feeling?
Testy and irritated
About the year 1727, just at the time that earthquakes were prevalent in New England, and shook many tall sinners down upon their knees, there lived near this place a meager, miserly fellow, of the name of Tom Walker. What does "prevalent" mean?
widely existing or occuring
What is the relationship like between Tom and his Wife?
Abusive and Untrusting.
Where did the story take place?
Miles from Boston Massachusetts.
What does Kidd the pirate symbolize?
The great treasure buried in the forrest.
How was Tom's wife described?
"Tom’s wife was a tall termagant, fierce of temper, loud of tongue, and strong of arm. Her voice was often heard in wordy warfare with her husband; and his face sometimes showed signs that their conflicts were not confined to words."
"Tom had long been picking his way cautiously through this treacherous forest;" What does "treacherous" mean?
dangerous
Where did tom meet the devil?
The woods/ Swamp
What was the setting of the swamp?
Dark and mysterious
What does the black figure represent?
death
What does the Devil look like throughout the story?
Black shadow, with an axe.
“You shall extort bonds, foreclose mortgages, drive the merchants to bankruptcy—” What does "extort" mean?
to obtain by threat or violence
When did Tom start going to church?
He started going to church after trying to cheat the devil in their deal.
Tom and his wife lived in a house, what surrounded the house?
The forrest
What did the trees represent?
Past greedy men who made a deal with the devil.
When looking for his wife what did Tom find?
Tom found his wife's organs wrapped in her apron
"The lonely wayfarer shrunk within himself at the horrid clamor and clapper-clawing; eyed the den of discord askance; and hurried on his way, rejoicing, if a bachelor, in his celibacy." What does "discord" mean?
lack of harmony; conflict
What job did Tom walker get after the deal with the devil, what did tom say to the devil about the terms?
He started to work as a Broker, He started the job a month in advance, he also doubled the percent tax.
Where did his wife go? Why?
To the forrest to find the devil in order to make a deal with him.
Tom walking the trail through the forest to get home.
Wants to take a longer way, to avoid his wife.
How was Tom's house described?
"Forlorn-looking house that stood alone, and had an air of starvation. A few straggling savin trees, emblems of sterility, grew near it; no smoke ever curled from its chimney; no traveler stopped at its door."
"He built himself, as usual, a vast house, out of ostentation; but left the greater part of it unfinished and unfurnished, out of parsimony." What does "ostentation" mean?
boastful display
Why did the devil take Tom Walker and how?
Because Tom tried to deceive the devil, the devil came knocking with a tall black horse, he took tom on the horse and tom was never seen again.
What year did this take place?
1824
What do the earthquakes represent?
The sinners that felt guilty and started to go to church.