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Questions and Answers
Where is the inlet mentioned in the content located?
Where is the inlet mentioned in the content located?
What type of tree is mentioned as growing on the ridge opposite the inlet?
What type of tree is mentioned as growing on the ridge opposite the inlet?
What was buried under one of the gigantic trees according to old stories?
What was buried under one of the gigantic trees according to old stories?
How did Tom Walker and his wife treat each other?
How did Tom Walker and his wife treat each other?
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What did Tom Walker's house suggest about their lifestyle?
What did Tom Walker's house suggest about their lifestyle?
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What kind of horse is described in the content?
What kind of horse is described in the content?
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What significant event occurred around the year 1727 in New England?
What significant event occurred around the year 1727 in New England?
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What does the presence of savin-trees near their house symbolize?
What does the presence of savin-trees near their house symbolize?
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What type of person was Tom's wife described as?
What type of person was Tom's wife described as?
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What was the general reputation of Tom and his household?
What was the general reputation of Tom and his household?
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What did Tom Walker encounter when he arrived at the old Indian fort?
What did Tom Walker encounter when he arrived at the old Indian fort?
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What indicated that the tree Tom was sitting on might fall soon?
What indicated that the tree Tom was sitting on might fall soon?
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What was revealed about Deacon Peabody from the trees in the woodland?
What was revealed about Deacon Peabody from the trees in the woodland?
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What final discovery did Tom make while digging in the mold at the fort?
What final discovery did Tom make while digging in the mold at the fort?
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What did the lonely wayfarer feel upon observing Tom's household?
What did the lonely wayfarer feel upon observing Tom's household?
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What characteristic of the swamp was highlighted regarding its physical appearance?
What characteristic of the swamp was highlighted regarding its physical appearance?
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What was the attitude of Tom Walker toward the spirits associated with the old fort?
What was the attitude of Tom Walker toward the spirits associated with the old fort?
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What was Tom Walker's response to the stranger's claim about the land?
What was Tom Walker's response to the stranger's claim about the land?
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What natural element was described as plentiful in the swamp?
What natural element was described as plentiful in the swamp?
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Where did Tom find himself after navigating through the swamp?
Where did Tom find himself after navigating through the swamp?
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What type of atmosphere is primarily described in the swamp?
What type of atmosphere is primarily described in the swamp?
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What did Tom remember about the name marked on the tree he was seated on?
What did Tom remember about the name marked on the tree he was seated on?
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What did Tom Walker find in his wife's apron when he climbed the tree?
What did Tom Walker find in his wife's apron when he climbed the tree?
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How did Tom react to the loss of his wife?
How did Tom react to the loss of his wife?
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What condition did the black man impose on Tom regarding the treasure?
What condition did the black man impose on Tom regarding the treasure?
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What profession did Tom eventually take up after dealing with the black man?
What profession did Tom eventually take up after dealing with the black man?
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How did Tom's reputation spread after he became a usurer?
How did Tom's reputation spread after he became a usurer?
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What did Tom promise to charge on loans after his deal with the black man?
What did Tom promise to charge on loans after his deal with the black man?
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What was the state of the country when Tom started lending money?
What was the state of the country when Tom started lending money?
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What did Tom Walker do with the money he accumulated?
What did Tom Walker do with the money he accumulated?
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What does Tom Walker do to compensate for his previous actions?
What does Tom Walker do to compensate for his previous actions?
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What industry did the black man suggest Tom enter into after refusing the slave trade?
What industry did the black man suggest Tom enter into after refusing the slave trade?
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What signifies Tom's anxiety about the afterlife?
What signifies Tom's anxiety about the afterlife?
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How did Tom's customers perceive him?
How did Tom's customers perceive him?
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What item does Tom carry in his coat-pocket for protection?
What item does Tom carry in his coat-pocket for protection?
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What did Tom experience while scrambling up the tree to retrieve the apron?
What did Tom experience while scrambling up the tree to retrieve the apron?
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What inferred aspect of Tom's character is evident from his actions towards his customers?
What inferred aspect of Tom's character is evident from his actions towards his customers?
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What happens to Tom Walker's wealth at the end of the story?
What happens to Tom Walker's wealth at the end of the story?
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What does Tom do when the land-jobber asks for mercy?
What does Tom do when the land-jobber asks for mercy?
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Which event did NOT influence the rise of Tom's business as a usurer?
Which event did NOT influence the rise of Tom's business as a usurer?
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What was Tom's final attitude towards wealth and material possessions?
What was Tom's final attitude towards wealth and material possessions?
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What does Tom Walker do during his time at church?
What does Tom Walker do during his time at church?
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Why does Tom decide to have his horse buried with its feet uppermost?
Why does Tom decide to have his horse buried with its feet uppermost?
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What ultimately happens to Tom Walker during the thunderstorm?
What ultimately happens to Tom Walker during the thunderstorm?
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How do the people of Boston react to Tom's fate?
How do the people of Boston react to Tom's fate?
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What physical trait of Tom is emphasized during his ride on the black horse?
What physical trait of Tom is emphasized during his ride on the black horse?
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What does Tom hope to achieve through his loud church attendance?
What does Tom hope to achieve through his loud church attendance?
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What does Tom do while conducting business?
What does Tom do while conducting business?
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What happens to Tom Walker's home after his death?
What happens to Tom Walker's home after his death?
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What does Tom Walker's supervisor behavior reveal about his character?
What does Tom Walker's supervisor behavior reveal about his character?
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What name is Tom known by in the neighborhood?
What name is Tom known by in the neighborhood?
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What did the black man offer Tom Walker?
What did the black man offer Tom Walker?
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What did Tom see burned into his forehead?
What did Tom see burned into his forehead?
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Why did Tom refuse to comply with his wife’s wishes concerning the black man's offer?
Why did Tom refuse to comply with his wife’s wishes concerning the black man's offer?
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What did Tom's wife take with her when she went to meet the black man?
What did Tom's wife take with her when she went to meet the black man?
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How long did Tom wait for his wife to return before he grew uneasy?
How long did Tom wait for his wife to return before he grew uneasy?
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What was the last thing Tom Walker heard as he searched for his wife?
What was the last thing Tom Walker heard as he searched for his wife?
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What did some people speculate about Tom's wife after her disappearance?
What did some people speculate about Tom's wife after her disappearance?
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What was Tom's reaction to the news of Absalom Crowninshield's death?
What was Tom's reaction to the news of Absalom Crowninshield's death?
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Which trait does Tom Walker exhibit in his interactions with the black man?
Which trait does Tom Walker exhibit in his interactions with the black man?
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What eventually happened to Tom Walker's wife?
What eventually happened to Tom Walker's wife?
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What did Tom Walker's wife urge him to do regarding the black man's terms?
What did Tom Walker's wife urge him to do regarding the black man's terms?
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What did Tom notice about the black man as he disappeared?
What did Tom notice about the black man as he disappeared?
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What does the black man symbolize in the story?
What does the black man symbolize in the story?
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Study Notes
The Devil and Tom Walker: Summary
- Setting: A swampy area near Boston, Massachusetts, around 1727.
- Tom Walker's character: Miserly, avaricious, and lived with an equally miserly wife.
- Relationship with wife: Contentious and suspicious, frequently quarreling.
- Living conditions: Their house and life were regarded as miserable and desolate.
- Encounter with Black Woodsman (Devil): Tom, taking a shortcut through the swamp, encounters the Devil at an old Indian fort.
- Devil's offer: Devil reveals buried pirate treasure, but offers it only under harsh conditions.
- Conditions: Tom is to use the treasure for the Devil's service.
Key Conditions and Tom's Actions
- Tom's refusal: Tom initially refuses to engage in slave trading, but accepts usury.
- Wife's pursuit: Tom's wife, ambitious for wealth, attempts to bargain with the Devil.
- Wife's disappearance: His wife vanishes after a second journey to the fort.
- Wife's fate (uncertain): Various explanations for her disappearance, including death at the Devil's hands, loss in the swamp, or escape.
- Tom's fate: The Devil takes Tom in exchange for a deal where the devil uses his wealth to create an empire in money lending.
Tom Walker's Wealth and Subsequent Actions
- Success as a moneylender: Tom, becoming a substantial moneylender, accumulates wealth and considerable power.
- Lifestyle in Boston: Tom establishes himself as a significant figure in Boston finance, building and demonstrating significant worldly success. He invests his life into obtaining wealth and accumulating his power.
Tom Walker's Later Life
- Religious conversion: His worldly success is followed by a dramatic about face to a life of prayer and religious devotion.
- Final encounter (death): The Devil, unhappy with Tom's new habits, abducts Tom in full view of all of his acquaintances and servants.
- End: Tom's wealth dissipates, and he mysteriously disappears, and is never seen again from human society. The result of this is a warning against avarice.
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Description
Explore the key themes and characters of Washington Irving's 'The Devil and Tom Walker'. This summary delves into Tom's encounter with the Devil, his relationship with his wife, and the consequences of his choices. Discover the significance of greed and the moral lessons embedded in this classic tale.
