By the Waters of Babylon by Stephen Vincent Benét

The narrator of the story is special because he

• narrates stories of gods

• explores faraway lands

• is training to become a priest

• defies forbidden laws and lands

Why does John want to leave to the Dead Place?

• he sees the gods walking in his dream

• he envisions his future there

• the priesthood orders exploration upon mysterious lands

• he wants to boast his journey to priesthood when compared to his father

What must John overcome in order to cross the river?

• the Forest People

• a flimsy raft

• his apprehensions

• the great fire

The narrator of the story is considered a naive narrator because he

• lacks adequate knowledge and wisdom

• does not fully understand what he dreams, sees, or experiences

• has very limited experiences with the world

• is stubborn against the laws of society

What does John discover in the Place of the Gods?

• the smell of death and grounds that burn forever

• an island covered with fogs and enchantments

• archaic ruins of many high towers and a destroyed city

• weeps of spirits and shrills of demons

What does John see one night in his dream that was magic?

• a mighty temple of statues of the Place of the Gods

• the Place of the Gods before it was destroyed

• the Great Burning and the Destruction

• the dead God

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

When John becomes chief priest, he wants to

• travel west to explore new and forbidden lands

• rebuild the Place of the Gods

• build a temple to honor the great men

• tell all the people the truth of the Place of the Gods

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

As he travels, John shows that he is both

• aggressive and meticulous

• humble and resourceful

• superstitious and audacious

• thoughtful but negligent

As John crosses the river, John says, "Never have I been so much alone--I tried to think of my knowledge, but it was a squirrel's heap of winter nuts." John implies that his knowledge

• is vulnerable and fruitless

• is the nutrition that feeds his soul

• is stronger that the force and current of the river

• is not adequate in this rugged situation

One night, John has a vision in his dream that was darkness and terrible, depicting

• a mighty temple of statues of the Place of the Gods

• the Place of the Gods before it was destroyed

• the Great Burning and the Destruction

• the dead God