"By the Waters of Babylon," Part 2: Analyzing Theme — Quiz
Question 19 • English Language Arts 10
Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon.” Now I tell what is very strong magic. I woke in the midst of the night. When I woke, the fire had gone out and I was cold. It seemed to me that all around me there were whisperings and voices. I closed my eyes to shut them out. Some will say that I slept again, but I do not think that I slept. I could feel the spirits drawing my spirit out of my body as a fish is drawn on a line. 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. How does the narrator respond to the conflict in this passage?
Answer
A
The narrator accepts that his spirit is being drawn out of his body.
B
The narrator questions whether his spirit was really drawn from his body or if he imagined it.
C
The narrator takes control of his spirit by using his priesthood.
D
The narrator acts passively to the removal of his spirit because he is in denial.
Explanation
The narrator directly says, “I know that I felt myself drawn,” and describes seeing his body asleep while his spirit was outside it. Although he recognizes that others might think he was sleeping, he rejects that explanation. This shows that he accepts the experience as real, so the best answer is “The narrator accepts that his spirit is being drawn out of his body.”
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