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

Why should I lie about it? I am a priest and the son of a priest. If there are spirits, as they say, in the small Dead Places near us, what spirits must there not be in that great Place of the Gods? And would not they wish to speak? After such long years? I know that I felt myself drawn as a fish is drawn on a line. I had stepped out of my body-I could see my body asleep in front of the cold fire, but it was not I. I was drawn to look out upon the city of the gods.

Which theme is reflected in this passage?

Sons must try to follow their fathers.

Men strive to speak to the spirit world.

Maturity is a result of being courageous.

Spiritual experiences can lead to greater understanding.

Question

English

Savion

13 August, 19:58

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

Why should I lie about it? I am a priest and the son of a priest. If there are spirits, as they say, in the small Dead Places near us, what spirits must there not be in that great Place of the Gods? And would not they wish to speak? After such long years? I know that I felt myself drawn as a fish is drawn on a line. I had stepped out of my body-I could see my body asleep in front of the cold fire, but it was not I. I was drawn to look out upon the city of the gods.

Which theme is reflected in this passage?

Sons must try to follow their fathers.

Men strive to speak to the spirit world.

Maturity is a result of being courageous.

Spiritual experiences can lead to greater understanding.

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Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Allison Shepard · Answer 1

Spiritual experiences can lead to greater understanding. This is the correct option.

The narrator belongs to a tribe called the Hill People. He is a young boy who wants to become a priest but he has to gain some experience, first. He must break away with superstitions and travel to the Dead Place. In the excerpt, the narrator questions what people have said about " spirits". They cannot speak, so they are not real. The narrator has understood that he will not lie about the spirits any longer. All he is interested in is learning about the city of the gods. This is New York before it burnt down. The narrator wants to get knowlege form this journey and pass it onto other people.

These options are not right:

-Sons must try to follow their fathers. (The narrator decides to take the journey into the Drak Place by himself).

-Men strive to speak to the spirit world. (The narrator questions the true existence of spirits. He wants to meet gods.)

-Maturity is a result of being courageous. (The narrator is brave but in the passage the focus is on spiritual search and how this may lead to new explanations).

Erin Knox · Answer 2

A. Sons must try to follow their fathers.

B. Men strive to speak to the spirit world.

C. Maturity is a result of being courageous.

D. Spiritual experiences can lead to greater understanding

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