Characters
The housekeeper for both the Bragg Family and the McGovern Family.
Missouri
What is Mark saying when he says of Helen, "She's my right arm"?
He loves her and relies on her.
Who was blinded in the nuclear blast?
Peyton Bragg
Why does Edgar Quisenberry end his life?
He put all his worth into money, so when the bank failed he thought his life was over.
The title, "Alas, Babylon" is an example of which literary device?
Biblical Allusion
He tricked Edgar Quisenberry into cashing a large out of town check.
Randy Bragg
The significance of describing Mark as being “no alarmist… capable of calculating odds…” shows...(18)
That Mark does not overact to situations, and that the threat of being bombed is imminent.
What is the name of Randy's dog?
Graf
What is going on at the Inn when Randy goes to town to see Dan on The Day? Give at least 2 examples.
Customers complaining to hotel staff, customers leaving in a rush, a baby was being born, someone died of a heart attack.
On page 40, the narrator says “[Edgar’s] antipathy for Randy was more deeply rooted than if he had been bankrupt.” Based on context clues, what does antipathy mean?
a deep-seated feeling of dislike
This character is the local doctor.
Dan Gunn
What does Mark mean when he says, “When a man dies, and his children die with him, then he is dead entirely, leaving nothing to show''? (16)
This his children are people who will carry on the family name and traditions.
Florence meets this character every Friday for lunch.
Alice Cooksey
What is the best indication of imminent war that Randy notices at McCoy? (26)
There are no civilians present on the base.
This quote is an example of which literary device?
“He telephones Golden Dew Dairy and revised his delivery order drastically upward. This was Randy’s first act to meet the emergency, and it was to prove the least useful.” (19)
Foreshadowing
This character fills the bathtubs and buckets up with water on The Day.
Ben Franklin Bragg
Why is the word “owned” put in quotation marks in the following statement? “Under the law, the President of the United States ‘owned’ the nuclear bombs and missile warheads.” (88)
To show that he doesn't technically "own" them, but he has control over them.
Who works for the SAC department of the military?
Mark Bragg
Where did Mark and Randy get the phrase "Alas, Babylon" from?
Preacher Henry's sermons
The quote is an example of which literary device?
“If I sent him [Ensign] up with orders to shoot down the moon, he’d try’”
Hyperbole
This character is scared that not only is her neighbor spying on her but so are the Russians.
Florence Wechek
What does it say about Ensign’s work ethic when the Lt. Commander said, “If I sent him [Ensign] up with orders to shoot down the moon, he’d try’” ?
He is determined to give 100% effort to everything he does.
Who launched the first bomb and started the war?
Ensign "Peewee" Cobb
Explain what Alas, Babylon means to Randy.
It is a signal from Mark that nuclear war is about to start.
Mark's comment about Helen on pg. 36, "She's my right arm", is an example of which literary device?
Metaphor