Question

By the waters U babylon, Part 1! Alanyzwy elny

Instruction Active
V
Analyzing the Impact of Setting on Characters
What statement best explains how John's reaction to
the setting develops his character?
How shall I tell what I saw? I went carefully, my strung
bow in my hand, my skin ready for danger. There should
have been the wailings of spirits and the shrieks of
demons, but there were not. It was very silent and sunny
where I had landed-the wind and the rain and the birds
that drop seeds had done their work--the grass grew in
the cracks of the broken stone. It is a fair island-no
wonder the gods built there. If I had come there, a god, I
also would have built
-"By the Waters of Babylon,"
Stephen Vincent Benet
O John's determination as he journeys through a
forbidden land reveals his bravery
O John's fear of demons in a new environment
suggests that he is mostly a cowardly person
O John's response to encountering this "fair island"
indicates that he is a joyful person
O John's disinterest in the gods as he arrives at this
new place shows that he is not very religious

Answer 1

A

Step-by-step explanation:

John´s determination as he journeys through a forbidden land reveals his bravery.

Answer 2

The statement that best explains how John's reaction to the setting develops his character is:

A) John's determination as he journeys through a forbidden land reveals his bravery.

Step-by-step explanation:

"By the Waters of Babylon" is a short story by author Stephen Vincent Benet. The main character is John, a "priest son of a priest" who lives in a post-apocalyptic future. After building and using weapons of mass destruction, humankind has left the world unrecognizable. Knowledge and technology are lost, and the remaining society has regressed to exaggerated superstition and religion. They believe metal to be cursed. Only priests can touch it without being killed by it. What used to be cities are now called Dead Places. People believe they are the gods' former abodes, now cursed, filled with spirits and demons.

John has a revelation and decides to travel to a Dead Place, which is revealed through hints to have been New York. He has been taught his whole life that the place would be hellish. Still, he bravely proceeds with his quest, ready to fight if necessary - "my strung bow in my hand, my skin ready for danger". His decision to keep on going despite his beliefs about the place show his qualities to readers. We can safely assume John is a courageous and open-minded man.