““By the Waters of Babylon” By the Waters of Babylon” VocabularyVocabulary

BoastedBoasted – to speak of or assert – to speak of or assert with with excessive prideexcessive pride

FastingFasting – to abstain from food – to abstain from food PerplexedPerplexed – filled with uncertainty – filled with uncertainty PurificationPurification – the act or instance – the act or instance

of of purifying or making purepurifying or making pure SpiteSpite – petty ill will or hatred with – petty ill will or hatred with

the the disposition to irritate, annoy, disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwartor thwart

Take the following notes as you come in and answer the question at the bottom of the page:

Apocalyptic fiction is:-a type of science fiction -Story is set in a world or civilization after a great disaster -Story takes place in a primitive non technological world- this kind of story is similar to a dystopia in some ways.

Answer this Question: What movies, books, or TV shows have you seen are post apocalyptic and why?

ThemesThemes““Downfall of Society”Downfall of Society” when technology grows faster than when technology grows faster than we can control it – a warning towe can control it – a warning to learn from history learn from history

““Spirit Walk”Spirit Walk” Where boys become men IF they surviveWhere boys become men IF they survive-these days we have getting a driver’s license or getting -these days we have getting a driver’s license or getting

a first real job.a first real job.

““Right of Passage”Right of Passage”A dangerous challenge must be attempted and if A dangerous challenge must be attempted and if

successful, they were respected by elders.successful, they were respected by elders.

Biblical allusion

The title "By the Waters The title "By the Waters of Babylon" is a clear allusion of Babylon" is a clear allusion to Psalm 137 of the Bible, whichto Psalm 137 of the Bible, which begins "By the Waters of Babylonbegins "By the Waters of Babylon I sat down and wept.“I sat down and wept.“ The Israelites lost their "promised land" of The Israelites lost their "promised land" of

Israel fromIsrael fromwhich they have been exiled. Their which they have been exiled. Their

homeland washomeland wasdestroyed and its people scattered. destroyed and its people scattered.

The message of the short story’s allusion: The message of the short story’s allusion: the eventual threat of self-destruction if the eventual threat of self-destruction if we are unable to curb our thirst for we are unable to curb our thirst for knowledge - and not "eat it too fast."knowledge - and not "eat it too fast."

Read Psalm 137 and respond. How does the title’s Read Psalm 137 and respond. How does the title’s Biblical Allusion connect to the theme of the story. Biblical Allusion connect to the theme of the story.

Answer in paragraph form.Answer in paragraph form.

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept wept        when we remembered Zion.        when we remembered Zion.

  2 There on the poplars 2 There on the poplars        we hung our harps,        we hung our harps,

3 for there our captors asked us for 3 for there our captors asked us for songs, songs,        our tormentors demanded        our tormentors demanded songs of joy; songs of joy;        they said, "Sing us one of        they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" the songs of Zion!"

4 How can we sing the songs of 4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD the LORD        while in a foreign land?        while in a foreign land?

  5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,        may my right hand forget its        may my right hand forget its skill . skill .

  6 May my tongue cling to the roof of 6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth my mouth        if I do not remember you,        if I do not remember you,        if I do not consider Jerusalem        if I do not consider Jerusalem        my highest joy.        my highest joy.   7 Remember, O LORD, what the 7 Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did Edomites did        on the day Jerusalem fell.        on the day Jerusalem fell.        "Tear it down," they cried,        "Tear it down," they cried,        "tear it down to its foundations!"        "tear it down to its foundations!"   8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to 8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, destruction,        happy is he who repays you        happy is he who repays you        for what you have done to us-        for what you have done to us-   9 he who seizes your infants 9 he who seizes your infants        and dashes them against the        and dashes them against the rocks.rocks.

First-person NarratorFirst-person Narrator

John - John - coming into manhood and must coming into manhood and must complete a dangerous right of passage complete a dangerous right of passage before he is accepted by his father and the elders.before he is accepted by his father and the elders.

A naïve narrator as he tells his story

My father is a priest; I am the son My father is a priest; I am the son of a priest. I have been in the of a priest. I have been in the Dead Places near us, with my Dead Places near us, with my father—at first, I was afraid. father—at first, I was afraid. When my father went into the When my father went into the house to search for the metal, I house to search for the metal, I stood by the door and my heart stood by the door and my heart felt small and weak. felt small and weak.

Literary Elements…Literary Elements… Allusion- Allusion- reference to something reference to something in a story that the author assumes in a story that the author assumes most readers will already knowmost readers will already know

Setting:Setting: Believed to be New York Believed to be New York City in the future after warfare City in the future after warfare (written 8 years before the first atom (written 8 years before the first atom bomb)bomb)

Conflict-Conflict- Man vs. himselfMan vs. himself John must face his fears by visiting the Place John must face his fears by visiting the Place

of the Godsof the GodsMan vs. NatureMan vs. Nature – – John is put in situations John is put in situations where he must survive against nature itselfwhere he must survive against nature itself

Man vs Man –Man vs Man – Will John question what he Will John question what he cannot understand about other men’s laws?cannot understand about other men’s laws?

JournalJournal

When is it right for government When is it right for government leaders to omit the truth in order to leaders to omit the truth in order to protect someone? Does society protect someone? Does society have a right to know the full truth? have a right to know the full truth? Based on what we have seen in Based on what we have seen in Harrison Bergeron, can this have Harrison Bergeron, can this have dire consequences?dire consequences?