In the short story, “By the Waters of Babylon” by Stephen Vincent Benet, setting is a very important element of how the story is portrayed. Although readers are introduced to a setting that feels like thousands of years ago, the reader later figures out that the setting is actually taking place sometime in the future during a post-apocalyptic era in New York City. An event that destroyed the world reduced the remaining members of civilization to living like cavemen, and scenic descriptions emerge as a powerful means of establishing and investigating this dark fate. Show
The timing of “By the Waters of Babylon” is very important to how this story progresses in the end. In the exposition of the story, it seems that the Hill People with whom John lives practiced hunting and fishing skills as that of sometime thousands of years ago. Their use of the English language is very formal, and their strict religious beliefs control how they think and do things. Their ways of getting food include hunting and fishing with the use of bow and arrow, and preparing their meals by a fire, which is not practiced very often in modern times. John notices some buildings that have names such as the one that has “UBTREAS” (581) written on it, which was part of the word subtreasury. The sign for the New York Subtreasury must have been destroyed in the event. This gives the reader a hint about what had happened. John describes a building he is in with “many stairs” that turned “around until [his] head was dizzy” (583). This informs the reader that John is in some type of high rise apartment, or building. Although in good shape, there are no people or what they call “god[s] or demon[s]” (581) present, informing the reader that the people who lived there died from the “Great Burning” (576) and John is living sometime after the apocalypse. The place of this story is also very important to how this story progresses. The distance from where John lives to the Dead Place also gives the story a mysterious atmosphere. Although the reader has no clue of the setting in the beginning, one of the first clues in the story is the name of the river that John dares to cross. He calls it the “Ou-dis-sun, the Sacred, the Long” (579), and it sounds very much like the the Hudson, which is around New York City. John probably lives somewhere West of the river, somewhere in the Poconos, northern New Jersey, or southern New York. John crosses over into the “Place of the Gods” (580) and is amazed by its buildings “that [are] too big to be houses” (579). He describes the city sprinkled with high rises “here and there” (581) as most were probably destroyed in the “Great Burning” (576). These buildings give the story a dangerous atmosphere, as they could easily fall and kill him. He sees many parts of nature that have come back to the city, such as fish and butterflies, which give the setting a more vibrant atmosphere. He explains the place from his point of view which is religiously based, so he explains many buildings as temples, and statues of great American heroes as unknown gods. For example he recognizes the statue of a god, “ASHING”(581), but it is really a statue of George Washington in New York. The statue was destroyed by something and left abandoned by the people after the Great Burning. John passes many odd places along his journey. He describes that he “passes by many Dead Places” (578) and he sees many “god-roads” (580) along the way, which are just a weird interpretation of modern asphalt. The Dead Places are just abandoned places that were probably part of the “Great Burning” (580). He is intrigued by many modern day things, and that causes him to believe that they have some magical use. His final destination is also unusual because he refers to it as “a Place for the Gods” (580) who are actually the past human civilization. The setting of this short story is very important to how this story is written, because it is part of the central idea that this took place after the apocalypse. The city area gives the reader a hint on why the area is so dilapidated. A large city like New York City would be a target for an apocalyptic event. The clues that hint to where and when the story takes place also gives the reader hints about what could have happened to a society that was destroyed.
The title of this selection is an allusion, or reference, to Psalm 137 in the Bible. The psalm expresses the sorrow of the Jews over their enslavement in Babylon and the destruction of Zion, their homeland. The psalm begins: “By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered thee, O Zion.” View complete answer on answers-to-all.com What is the biblical connection of the Waters of Babylon?The title “By the Waters of Babylon” is a clear allusion to Psalm 137 of the Bible, which begins “By the Waters of Babylon I sat down and wept.” This Psalm is a lament of the Israelites for their lost “promised land” of Israel from which they have been exiled. Their homeland was destroyed and its people scattered.View complete answer on answers-to-all.com What can we learn from By the Waters of Babylon?
View complete answer on litcharts.com What is the story By the Waters of Babylon about?The story follows John on his initiation quest, a journey he undertakes in order to be recognized by his tribe as a man and a priest. John chooses the path of his journey based on visions and his reading of signs in the natural world. John's desire for new knowledge leads him to break many of the laws of his tribe.View complete answer on litcharts.com Which theme is reflected in this passage By the Waters of Babylon?Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon." Which theme is reflected in this passage? Spiritual experiences can lead to great understanding.View complete answer on quizlet.com [American Literature] Stephen Vincent Benét - By the Waters of BabylonWhat does the title By the Waters of Babylon mean?The title of this selection is an allusion, or reference, to Psalm 137 in the Bible. The psalm expresses the sorrow of the Jews over their enslavement in Babylon and the destruction of Zion, their homeland. The psalm begins: “By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered thee, O Zion.”View complete answer on npsk12.com Why did the author write By the Waters of Babylon?Benét wrote the story in response to the April 25, 1937 bombing of Guernica, in which Fascist military forces destroyed the majority of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org What means Babylon?Babylon is the most famous city from ancient Mesopotamia whose ruins lie in modern-day Iraq 59 miles (94 kilometres) southwest of Baghdad. The name is thought to derive from bav-il or bav-ilim which, in the Akkadian language of the time, meant 'Gate of God' or 'Gate of the Gods' and 'Babylon' coming from Greek.View complete answer on worldhistory.org What is the theme of By the Waters of Babylon quizlet?The theme of the story is to seek knowledge, as John set's out on his journey purely because of his "knowledge and lack of knowledge" He wished to know more. This theme plays out in flash backs to his childhood (where he ate the fruit), to when he crosses the river, and finally in his discoveries in the village.View complete answer on quizlet.com What is the main conflict in By the Waters of Babylon?The main character, John, struggles against his own fears (internal conflict) and against real or imagined outside threats (external conflict), such as a pack of wild dogs and the Hudson River (which almost sweeps him away).View complete answer on cummingsstudyguides.net Which statement from By the Waters of Babylon provides the best example of how the physical environment?Which statement from "By the Waters of Babylon" provides the best example of how the physical environment shapes the character's actions? A. "These are the rules and the laws; they are well made."View complete answer on quizlet.com What advice about sharing knowledge does John's father give him at the end of the story?John's father advises him to share his new knowledge with the people a little at a time, so that they aren't overwhelmed; John follows this advice, and believes that eventually, he and his people can rebuild society.View complete answer on quizlet.com Why do you think the narrator titled the story By the Waters of Babylon?''By the Waters of Babylon'' TitleIn this verse, the Israelites in exile lament the loss of the promised land. The title is appropriate for Benet's futuristic short story that focuses on a society eradicated by nuclear war. View complete answer on study.com What do the Rivers of Babylon symbolize in Psalm 137?The rivers of Babylon are the Euphrates river, its tributaries, and the Tigris river. Psalm 137 is a hymn expressing the yearnings of the Jewish people during their Babylonian exile.View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org Is rivers of Babylon about slavery?One of the hits of disco music from the 70s, this Christian song from the Bible has a very deep meaning for the blacks in America and is a tribute for his slave ancestry. The lyrics for this song were written in Babylon 2500 years ago by another enslaved community: the Hebrews.View complete answer on multimedia-english.com What do the conflicts reveal about the characters and plot of the story By the Waters of Babylon?The conflicts with nature create suspense and reveal the importance of perseverance. The narrator's conflict with society shows he is willing to challenge laws to benefit others. The narrator shows bravery and determination through his experiences to gain knowledge.View complete answer on quizlet.com What is the resolution of the story By the Waters of Babylon?The resolution of this story occurs when John realizes that the "gods' are not gods at all but just the people who built the city prior to "The Great Burning " (61).View complete answer on prezi.com How does the narrative point of view in By the Waters of Babylon impact the story?Point of view is especially important to this short story because a change in point of view would cause dramatic changes to the plot. Babylon's plot revolves around the fact that The Place of the Gods is merely post-apocalyptic New York rather than some magic place that the beginning of the story hints at.View complete answer on kibin.com What did Babylon symbolize?Doctrinal Outline. Babylon symbolizes evil. God destroyed Babylon, a wicked city in the ancient world (see Isaiah 13:19–22; Jeremiah 51:37, 52–58). Babylon has become the symbol of the wickedness and evils of the world (see D&C 133:14; Revelation 17:5; 18:2; D&C 86:3).View complete answer on churchofjesuschrist.org What is Babylon called today?Babylon, one of the most famous cities from any ancient civilisation, was the capital of Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia. Today, that's about 60 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq.View complete answer on historyextra.com How can you describe Babylon?Babylon was the capital of the Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian Empires. It was a sprawling, heavily-populated city with enormous walls and multiple palaces and temples. Famous structures and artifacts include the temple of Marduk, the Ishtar Gate, and stelae upon which Hammurabi's Code was written.View complete answer on britannica.com What does John realize in By the Waters of Babylon?Summary Of By The Waters Of BabylonAs a father, he made his son a priest and independent on what he wants to do. He let John know of the dangers that anticipate him to the forbidden area, which proves that he is a good father. View complete answer on ipl.org Which statement best describes the setting of By the Waters of Babylon?Which statement best describes the setting of "By the Waters of Babylon"? The story is set in New York many years after an apocalypse, and communities have formed in the area's forest and hills.View complete answer on quizlet.com What does John mean by we must build again?-"we must build again" -john has learned that men are capable of causing destruction; and their spirits are capable of wisdom and good. theme. -too much progress, will lead to destruction. -war will destroy the world.View complete answer on quizlet.com How does the conflict at the beginning of the paragraph move the plot forward By the Waters of Babylon?How does the conflict at the beginning of the paragraph move the plot forward? The narrator realizes that the god was a man. Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon."View complete answer on quizlet.com |
Which statement best describes the setting of by Waters of Babylon?
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