Click here to go to the webquest for "By the Waters of Babylon."

Names:_______________________________________________

Directions: Fills in the answers for the tasks.  In order to access the tasks for “By the Waters of Babylon” open Internet Explorer.  Type http://members.cox.net/mrsschow in the address bar.  Follow the instructions from the website.

Task 1: The City and Story of Babylon

1.  What was Babylon?-ancient city that dates back to 2000 BC

2.  Where was it located?- Along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers/ located in now Iraq

3.   What happened to the city of Babylon? Captured by Alexander the Great decline began

4.  Why was the city significant then and now? Economically and agriculturally advanced; symbol of power, cruelty, materialism; false systems of religion began there;

Why is Psalm 137 significant?

It was written by the captives of Babylon when they remembered their home

Task 2: Setting and Point of View

1.  What is the point of view of the story? First person

2.  Why is the point of view so significant to this particular story?  Use examples from your text to show the importance of point of view. The reader only knows what John knows.  We have to piece the information together to understand what happened and what is going on

3.  When does the story take place?  Why might the answer change as someone is reading this story? Sometime in the near future; at first it seems like it is going on in the past (Native American story)

4.  What are two clues letting the reader know when the story takes place?  The house of the dead man; food in the jars

5.  Where is the Place of the Gods?"  Using one of the following search engines find a website about the "Place of the Gods." New York

6.   What are three places or cites the John visits that is unique to the "Place of the Gods?"

Task 3: John and his Journey

1.   Who is John? What tribe does he belong to in his world? Son of a priest

2.   What is his role in society?

3.   What does John "thirst" for throughout the story? (Use textual support) knowledge

4.   What does John dream about in the beginning of the story and why is it important? (Use textual support) about a river and a city with men walking around

5.  What does John decide to do at the end with his knowledge?  Why is this important?  Hold on to it

Outline for John’s Journey

I) Departure

            A. The Call to Adventure

                        1. John is chosen to be a priest-in-training
                        2.
                        3.

            B. Supernatural Aid

                        1. The ceremony and purification
                        2.
                        3.

            C. The Crossing of the First Threshold

                        1. John searches for a sign

                                    a.
                                    b.

                        2.
                        3.
                        4

            D. The Belly of the Whale

                        1. Shaking and crying, John builds his raft.
                        2.
                        3.
                        4.
                        5.

II) Initiation

            A. The Road of Trials

                        1. He explores the island and learns some of the legends are untrue.
                        2.
                        3.
                        4.
                        5.
                        6.

            B. Apotheosis

                        1. He finds himself out of his body in the middle of the night
                        2.
                        3.

            C. The Ultimate Boon

                        1.
                        2.

III) Return

            A. The Magic Flight

                        1.  He heads for home. The river presents no problem.
                        2.
                        3.

            B. The Crossing of the Return Threshold

                        1.He tells his father

                                    a.
                                    b.

                        2.

            C. Master of Two Worlds

                        1.
                        2.

            D. Freedom to Live - John plans . . .

Task 4-

                        Rule                                        Reason

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Questions

1.  John says this is the beginning of time.  How is that statement true and untrue?  A civilization has ended but his has just begun

2.  What has happened in the world?   Find three examples from the text that let the reader know.

3.  Read the last line of the story.  What do you conclude the theme of the story is?  Consider what you know about the ancient civilization of Babylon. 

4.  Is the author optimistic or pessimistic? Answers may vary.