Literary Devices/Vocab
In a plot diagram, what is the climax?
The climax is the moment of peak tension or conflict that all the rising action has led too.
What does John realize about the gods in the "By the Waters of Babylon?"
That the gods were human, not actual gods.
What year does the story take place?
2026
What is Chernobyl?
A nuclear power plant in present-day Ukraine.
What does NPR stand for?
National Public Radio
What is personification?
Giving human characteristics to inhuman or inanimate objects.
After what kind of event do the events of "By the Waters of Babylon" take place?
A destructive war.
After what kind of event does "There Will Come Soft Rains" take place?
A nuclear war.
What city is closest to Chernobyl?
Pripyat
For how many years was the bunker kept a secret?
30 years
What is the definition of the word "specter?"
Something widely feared as a possible unpleasant occurrence.
Where is the Place of the Gods?
New York City OR East, across the river
How does the reader learn where and when "There Will Come Soft Rains" takes place?
The house states the date, time, and location throughout the story.
How many sieverts of radiation is enough to kill a human being?
5 sieverts of radiation
What was a major concern during the Cold War?
Nuclear attacks
What is alliteration? Example?
A literary device where two neighboring words start with the same sound (Ally ate apples all afternoon)
What point of view is "By the Waters of Babylon" written in?
First - person, by John.
List 3 parts of the houses routine.
Cooks breakfast, wakes people up, does the dishes, cleans up the house, sets up the bridge tables, runs the sprinkler, reads poems, etc.
How did the residents of Pripyat react AT FIRST to the meltdown at Chernobyl?
They continued their daily lives as usual.
Why was the bunker kept a secret?
To protect members of Congress in case of an emergency.
What is the definition of "macabre?"
Disturbing and horrifying, often associated with death or injury.
What does John's father tell him when he returns home?
That too much knowledge too fast can be a bad thing.
What is burned into the side of the house? (Be specific!)
Nuclear shadows of the family that lived there. Parents, two kids, and a ball.
Which reactor at Chernobyl exploded?
Reactor #4
How many people was the bunker designed to hold?
1,100 people