Talk:The Devil and Daniel Webster

what was the goat's name

There was a ram named Goliath that Daniel was wrestling with. --Captwheeler 03:36, 22 August 2005 (UTC)

Trivia?

I think the trivia section should be renamed 'in popular culture'. That's really what it is, and everyone knows trivia sections are discouraged anyway. I have modified the title accordingly. Thhhh (talk) 02:45, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Folk legend?

In a travel map I picked up, sponsored by ENCO in 1960, it describes Daniel Webster on a level of folklore similar to Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill. According to the map "When Daniel Webster spoke, some say, the stars flashed and the earth trembled. He had a brow like a mountain and black eyes that burned like live coals." Kevingarcia 07:42, 28 January 2006 (UTC)

Daniel Webster was a real person, who was portrayed in melodramatic ways. --Captwheeler 19:32, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

I know, I was just pointing out that his deeds became folk legends, told and retold by people - thanks largely to the book. -Kevingarcia

Other reference

There was also a reference to this story in an episode of Italic textFuturamaItalic text, another show by Italic textSimpsonsItalic text creator Matt Groening in which the main character, Flick, makes a deal with the devil for his soul. They attempt to time travel to retrieve Daniel Webster to help Flick get out of his contract, but inadvertently tagert the wrong Webster, and instead they retrieve the Webster African-American child star of 1980's TV fame.

-"Flick"? Kevingarcia 07:42, 28 January 2006 (UTC)

Trivia

• In several non-English speaking countries, the story is included in textbooks for teaching English to students who are often baffled by the references to events of 19th century American history.
  • Although, to be perfectly frank, American students are far more baffled by references to events of 19th century American history than are their foreign peers. 216.93.208.154 22:47, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Right; we're all stupid. That must be it. 72.144.68.156 01:10, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

Tom Walker?

It's rather stunning that this article contains no reference to the American antecedent of this story. The Devil and Tom Walker is, you know, important. 72.144.68.156 01:12, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

Oh I agree 200%. I did a whole semester on English literature this year and learned all about Faust, and The Devil and Tom Walker, and our teacher told us of it's influence. In short, I've included the details on its influence on this story, that was so ignorantly left out before, in a seeming attempt to make this story the "original version", when 'Tom Walker' was published more than 100 years before. 209.244.42.97 20:24, 1 July 2007 (UTC)

Brief reference to "The Devil and Tom Walker" is what should be on this page. For more details on that story (such as where is was published), the reader should access the article on "The Devil and Tom Walker." Shsilver 03:39, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

Film Title

The film was original called All That Money Can Buy and was later retitled the same as the story. Was there some contractual issue behind this? --kosboot 22:36, 1 April 2007 (UTC)

Analysis

Am I the only one who thinks it borders on Original Research? 68.39.174.238 04:29, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

The story is set prior to 1850.

The article claims the story takes place earlier than the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. Actually, it takes place before 1850. When the devil tells Webster's fortune, he predicts that Webster would make a controversial speech that would alienate many of his supporters. This was an obvious reference to his famous "Seventh of March Speech" in support of the Compromise of 1850. I'm not sure, but I think Webster was dead by 1854.97.73.64.172 (talk) 03:08, 2 February 2010 (UTC)