* Description: The swamp is portrayed as a desolate and forbidding place, filled with "stagnant water" and "black and rotten trees." The imagery evokes a sense of decay and decay.
* Atmosphere: Irving uses vivid language to create a dark and eerie atmosphere, emphasizing the "gloominess" and "desolation" of the swamp.
* Supernatural elements: The presence of the Devil himself, and the suggestion of other ghostly or demonic figures, contribute to the feeling of dread and unease.
* Isolation: The swamp is a place of isolation and solitude, which further enhances the feeling of oppressive darkness.
By creating this unsettling and oppressive atmosphere, Irving emphasizes the moral danger of the swamp, highlighting its association with greed, temptation, and ultimately, damnation. The setting serves as a physical manifestation of the internal darkness and corruption that ultimately consumes Tom Walker.