Washington Irving was known to be a social satirist, and it is reasonable to claim that he wrote "The Devil and Tom Walker" as a critique of the increasing greed and capitalism of the late years of the industrial revolution, since the story was published in 1824. Many of the thriving mills of this period were concentrated in the northeast, and Irving recalls that this area had been taken away from Native Americans and claimed by the English, many of whom originally came to the colonies for religious reasons. Tom Walker's fall from Puritanism into greed and immorality is symbolic of the history of New England from colonial times till the time he wrote the story.
Irving uses the rhetorical device of allusion when he refers to the pirate Kidd and his treasure.
Irving uses the epithet "Old Scratch" to identify the devil.
Irving uses an analogy or metaphor to describe the economic climate of Tom Walker's town:
...the great speculating fever which breaks out every now and then in the country had raged to an alarming degree, and everybody was dreaming of making sudden fortunes from nothing.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
What is Washington Irving's purpose for writing "The Devil and Tom Walker" and what three rhetorical devices does he use to achieve this purpose?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What is the theme of the chapter Lead?
Primo Levi's complex probing of the Holocaust, including his survival of Auschwitz and pre- and post-war life, is organized around indiv...
-
It seems most likely you are asking about Michael Halliday's theories of language. He argues children have seven main functions they use...
-
Note that these events are not in chronological order. The story is told by the narrator, looking back upon her life. The first notable even...
-
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry has his first lesson in chapter eight of the book. While Harry has many other classes before...
-
A Dog’s Purpose is a 32 chapter novel narrated from the perspective of a dog who is repeatedly reincarnated, with his ultimate goal of disco...
-
Auggie’s first day of school is rough, but it could certainly have been worse. When he gets to school, he attempts to maintain a low profile...
-
Meg Meg is the central character in the novel, and we see the action through her eyes. She is important to the novel because she, along with...
-
Pluralism implies that different communities and cultures that enter a foreign one will hold on to their culture and traditions. This will l...
No comments:
Post a Comment