The devil and tom walker
by washington irving (excerpt)
"and, pray, who are you, if i may be so bold? " said tom.
"oh, i go by various names. i am the wild huntsman in some countries; the black miner in others. in this neighborhood i am known by the name of the black woodsman. i am he to whom the red men consecrated this spot, and in honor of whom they now and then roasted a white man, by way of sweet-smelling sacrifice. since the red men have been exterminated by you white savages, i amuse myself by presiding at the persecutions of quakers and anabaptists; i am the great patron and prompter of slave-dealers and the grand-master of the salem witches."
"the upshot of all which is, that, if i mistake not," said tom, sturdily, "you are he commonly called old scratch."
"the same, at your service! " replied the black man, with a half-civil nod.
such was the opening of this interview, according to the old story; though it has almost too familiar an air to be credited. one would think that to meet with such a singular personage in this wild, lonely place would have shaken any man's nerves; but tom was a hard-minded fellow, not easily daunted, and he had lived so long with a termagant wife that he did not even fear the devil.
instructions: select the correct answer.
a: how does the satire in this passage influence the reader’s interpretation of tom?
b: the use of satire makes readers realize that tom is logical because he wins the argument with the stranger.
c: the use of satire makes readers realize that tom is manipulative because he convinces the devil to him.
d: the use of satire makes readers realize that tom is foolish because he doesn’t fear the devil.
e: the use of satire makes readers realize that tom is because he assists the stranger.