33 By The Waters of Babylon By the Waters of Babylon Study Guide - Text 1. When does the story take place? 2. What do the priests of Johns people go to Dead Places for? 3. Why is the food in the Dead Places dangerous? 4. What does John find to be untrue about the Place of the Gods? What is his greatest discovery? 5. How does the title of this selection add to your understanding of the story? 6. What is the theme or main message of this story? 7. Outline the plot of this story a) Exposition b) Rising Action c) Climax d) Falling action Evaluate Literature 1. Define allusion. What is an allusion in this story? Connections 1. In your opinion, is our society in danger of being destroyed in the same way as the Place of the Gods? Explain your answer