The Perfect Example of a Folktale Now, one may wonder to his or herself, how exactly is “The Devil and Tom Walker” a folktale. To begin, the story is composed by a writer by the name of Washington Irving. The story contains the three necessities of a folktale. The first of the three criteria is the inclusion of stereotypes within the text; which one can evidently spot out whilst reading through the folktale. Following the inclusion of stereotypes, the use of unlikely events further strengthens the fact that the story is a folktale. The final aspect of the story that allows it to be a folktale is the incorporation of lessons, and or themes, that are to be learned while reading the story. The story “The Devil and Tom Walker” clearly
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One may define the term “unlikely events” as certain situations, and or events, that are highly unlikely to actually occur within one’s lifetime. A perfect example of an unlikely event in the story is when Tom, the main character, comes face to face with the Devil without realizing it. These encounters with the Devil are considered to be unlikely events because of the actual probability of coming face to face with the Devil. Furthermore, the following quote from the story is an excellent example of another unlikely event, “Finding Tom so squeamish on this point, he did not insist upon it, but proposed, instead that he should turn usurer; the Devil being extremely anxious for the increase of usurers, looking upon them as his peculiar people” (5). The previous quote exemplifies an unlikely event due to the fact that selling one’s self to the Devil is not a common occurrence in everyday life. One may qualify this story as a folktale through its vast uses of unlikely events throughout the …show more content…
The story is able to be considered a folktale due to the story incorporating all three of the essential elements for a story to be classified as a folktale. First up, the story contains a vast variety of stereotypes. Secondly, the story’s plot is filled to the brim with unlikely events. Last, but not least, the story is dotted with lessons and themes for the reader to take away from the story. Through the mixing of folktale elements, Washington Irving has been able to formulate the folktale “The Devil and Tom Walker.” All in all, if one were to read through the story, he or she will begin to realize how exactly the story can be classified as a
One may define the term “unlikely events” as certain situations, and or events, that are highly unlikely to actually occur within one’s lifetime. A perfect example of an unlikely event in the story is when Tom, the main character, comes face to face with the Devil without realizing it. These encounters with the Devil are considered to be unlikely events because of the actual probability of coming face to face with the Devil. Furthermore, the following quote from the story is an excellent example of another unlikely event, “Finding Tom so squeamish on this point, he did not insist upon it, but proposed, instead that he should turn usurer; the Devil being extremely anxious for the increase of usurers, looking upon them as his peculiar people” (5). The previous quote exemplifies an unlikely event due to the fact that selling one’s self to the Devil is not a common occurrence in everyday life. One may qualify this story as a folktale through its vast uses of unlikely events throughout the …show more content…
The story is able to be considered a folktale due to the story incorporating all three of the essential elements for a story to be classified as a folktale. First up, the story contains a vast variety of stereotypes. Secondly, the story’s plot is filled to the brim with unlikely events. Last, but not least, the story is dotted with lessons and themes for the reader to take away from the story. Through the mixing of folktale elements, Washington Irving has been able to formulate the folktale “The Devil and Tom Walker.” All in all, if one were to read through the story, he or she will begin to realize how exactly the story can be classified as a