By the Waters of Babylon Post - apocalyptic Fiction is: 1. a type of science fiction 2. the story is set in a world or civilization after a great disaster (apocalypse) 3. Story takes place in a primitive, non- technological society 4. This kind of story is similar to a dystopia in some ways.

Apocalypse – universal or widespread destruction Post-apocalyptic – taking place after the universal destruction

What movies, books, or TV shows have you seen that are considered post apocalyptic? Why did you choose to see them?

Vocabulary boasted: to speak of or assert with excessive pride boasted: to speak of or assert with excessive pride fasting: to abstain from food fasting: to abstain from food perplexed: filled with uncertainty perplexed: filled with uncertainty purification: the act or instance of purifying or making pure purification: the act or instance of purifying or making pure spite: petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart spite: petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart

Themes “Downfall of Society” when technology grows faster than we can control it – a warning to learn from history learn from history “Spirit Walk” Where boys become men IF they survive Where boys become men IF they survive -these days we have getting a driver’s license or getting a first real job. “Right of Passage” A dangerous challenge must be attempted and if successful, they were respected by elders.

Biblical Allusion Allusion- reference to something in a story that the author assumes most readers will already know The title "By the Waters of Babylon" is an allusion to Psalm 137 of the Bible, which begins "By the Waters of Babylon begins "By the Waters of Babylon I sat down and wept.“ I sat down and wept.“ The Israelites lost their "promised land" of Israel from The Israelites lost their "promised land" of Israel from which they have been exiled. Their homeland was destroyed and its people scattered. The message of the short story’s allusion: the eventual threat of self- destruction if we are unable to curb our thirst for knowledge - and not "eat it too fast."

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

Setting: New York City in the future after global warfare has destroyed it and civilization as we know it, the vast majority of technology has been lost and most people are dead (written 8 years before the first atom bomb)

Man vs. Nature – John is put in situations where he must survive against nature itself ? ? Man vs Man – Will John question what he cannot understand about other men’s laws? Conflict- Man vs. himself John must face his fears by visiting the Place of the Gods