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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. To what does the narrator compare the sound of Tom's carriage wheels?

2. Who wrote "The Devil and Tom Walker"?

3. Who is said to have been present when the treasure was buried?

4. What can a reader infer is one of the devil's conditions in the bargain he makes with Tom?

5. What tone does the narrator adopt when saying that Tom is a friend to his clients?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tom's wife react to his news, and what is his response to her?

2. Why is the death of Absolom Crowninshield announced as the death of a great man in Israel when he actually died in Massachusetts?

3. What is the significance of the devil's comment about Absalom Crowninshield's tree being ready to burn?

4. What does Tom's wife do as a result of his refusal to make a deal with the devil, and what is the outcome?

5. How does Tom ultimately slip up and get captured by the devil?

6. Describe the appearance of the devil in this story.

7. What does Tom do with his money and what does it show about his personality?

8. Before Tom and the devil part, how does the devil seal his side of the bargain and what does this allude to?

9. What becomes of Tom Walker and all of his wealth?

10. What recent events lead to Tom's business being so successful?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay in which you analyze the symbol of the Bible buried beneath the stack of mortgage papers; be sure to consider more than just this one moment in the story and think of how it speaks to something larger than just Tom's behavior. Be sure to offer textual support for your claims.

Essay Topic 2

When Tom finally asks, aloud, for the devil to come and take him, it is seemingly an accident, just some poorly chosen words. Write an essay in which you defend the idea that actually, these words are a perfect encapsulation of Tom Walker's behavior throughout his life. Be sure to offer textual support for your claims.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you explore the casual racism of Irving's short story "The Devil and Daniel Walker." Describe the elements of the story that are racist and explain the irony in this racism, given the stand that Irving takes against the slave trade. Be sure to use quoted textual support for your claims.

(see the answer keys)

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