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.

how does the satire in this passage influence the reader’s interpretation of tom?

a) the use of satire makes readers realize that tom is logical because he wins the argument with the stranger.

b)the use of satire makes readers realize that tom is manipulative because he convinces the devil to him.

c)the use of satire makes readers realize that tom has an unusually calm reaction to meeting the devil.

d)the use of satire makes readers realize that tom is because he assists the stranger.