Question

Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon.” I went north—I did not try to hide myself. When a god or a demon saw me, then I would die, but meanwhile I was no longer afraid. My hunger for knowledge burned in me—there was so much that I could not understand. What does the narrator’s response to the setting reveal about his character?

His desire to follow society’s rules is greater than his own ideas.
His desire to explore is greater than his fear of where he is going.
He is concerned that the forces of nature are more powerful than his will.
He is afraid that his fear will eventually prevent him from learning.

Answer 1

Answer: If the context is...

Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon.”

I went north—I did not try to hide myself. When a god or a demon saw me, then I would die, but meanwhile I was no longer afraid. My hunger for knowledge burned in me—there was so much that I could not understand.

What does the narrator’s response to the setting reveal about his character?

O His desire to follow society’s rules is greater than his own ideas.

O His desire to explore is greater than his fear of where he is going. *

O He is concerned that the forces of nature are more powerful than his will.

O He is afraid that his fear will eventually prevent him from learning.

Step-by-step explanation:

Read the story a few times. I have a good understanding. In addition, I got it right on EDG 2020

Answer 2

The correct answer is “His desire to explore is greater than his fear of where he is going”. Taken from the short story “By the Waters of Babylon” by Stephen Vincent Benét (1937), the passage presented above narrates the moment when John, the son of a priest, visits the Place of the Gods, also called The Dead Place. This place was destroyed by a great burning. Moreover, the Place of the Gods was said to be inhabited with spirits and demons since then. The place was described as a desolate one and nature has taken over it. Even though the place was forbidden and scary, John embarks on a journey to unravel its mysteries. He does not fear its scary atmosphere, since his insatiable quest for knowledge is far more important.