The title, “By the Waters of Babylon,” is both a Biblical and historical allusion to the city of Babylon or the Babylonian empire. However, the story was originally published in The Saturday Evening Post with the title “The Place of the Gods.” How does the interpretation of the story change with the altered title? What does the Biblical or historical allusion add to the meaning of the text?

Benét makes subtle references to famous New York City landmarks to draw the connection between the mythic Place of the Gods and the real city of New York. How does setting the story in a real city rather than a fictional one affect the text’s genre and impact?

How does John’s pursuit of knowledge follow the pattern of the hero’s journey? What dangers does he face, and what is his reward? Besides his hunger for knowledge, what other admirable and heroic qualities does the protagonist possess?