“By the Waters of Babylon”

 

This is Stephen Benet, the author.

The person in Stephen Benet’s short story “By the Waters of Babylon” is very cautious and calm. He does have a really brave attitude and does not show emotion easily. I think it is important that a protagonist of a story has these characteristics, because the reader wants to see a smart man and him using his brain to solve situations. Also, the reader wants him to have brave qualities.

At the end of the story John says “Perhaps, in the old days, they ate knowledge too fast.” I think this means that we are not stopping to enjoy and savor the knowledge we partake of. We are learning the minimum of the subject and then we move on. We need to take in what we are learning and fully absorb the knowledge before moving on to the next section.

Stephen Benet’s short story “By the Waters of Babylon” was written in 1937. At that time, nobody had nuclear weapons. Benet talks about complete destruction of a civilization and I think that these do not have relevance because he couldn’t possibly know what s going to happen in the future.

Leave a comment below if you know what comes next in the sentence below.

 Remember kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered but legends ____________, follow your ________ kid, and you’ll never go wrong.

Need a hint? It’s from this scene in “The Sandlot”.

 

Unanswered Questions about “The Leap” You Might Have

Photo From: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMn9thD-ICs/T32Wa83GbMI/AAAAAAAAL1Y/RVZhPSskV44/s1600/Luisita-Leers-1.jpg

This is what I imagined what the mother would look like.

Does the mother seems outwardly demure (modest, shy) and reserved (quiet)? Although the mother seems quiet and doesn’t like to talk, she is definitely not shy or modest on stage. The fact that there is barely any quotes of the mother speaking, says that she does not like to speak. This quote from the story “In the final vignette of their act, they actually would kiss in midair”, proves that she is not shy when performing.

Photo From: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/06/02/article-0-08D96DD9000005DC-935_468x414.jpg

Does she have a hidden, wild energy? The mother seems very calm to me in this story, under one condition. She is performing dangerous acts in midair while kissing guys.  This quote, “He held his hands out to receive his pregnant wife”, shows that the mother has a wild side to her. That’s so because she was doing these dangerous stunts while she was pregnant.

 

Is she able to transform, or change, herself and others?  The mother changed many people in this story. Most importantly she changed her daughter. When the family’s house caught on fire, the Daughter thought that no would rescue her and given up hope, but then the mother came in from a two-story high window with just a night-gown on and saved her daughter.

Leave a comment below if you have any other unanswered questions about “The Leap”.

 

Romeo and Juliet News Article: Romeo gets revenge for loving his woman.

Romeo gets revenge for loving his woman.

On Monday afternoon, the Montague and Capulet families agreed on something. Who they were in love with! Romeos was with the Montague crew when Tybalt and the Capulet’s walked up. Tybalt came up and said “Romeo oh Romeo. I feel bad for you.” Then Romeo asked, “Why is that?” “Because Juliet will never love you like she loves me!” said Tybalt. “Your crazy Tybalt! You’re her cousin! That just makes me sick!” yelled Romeo. “You don’t know how beautiful are love is!” said Tybalt. “I don’t think anyone in this whole city know how beautiful your love is. Maybe because its ghastly!” “If I can’t have her than nobody can!” yelled Tybalt running towards Romeo with a dagger in his hands. Romeo simply weaved to the side and tripped Tybalt in the dirt. Tybalt angrily got up and tried running at him again. Romeo pulls out his dagger and holds it out right before Tybalt reaches him. Tybalt ran straight in the dagger and falls to the ground. Laying oozing blood everywhere he says “you have defeated me Romeo. But promise me one thing. You take care of her don’t let anything happen to her, alright?” “Aright, I promise.” Said Romeo. “Rest in peace.”

Photo From: http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/26600000/Romeo-Montague-1968-romeo-montague-1968-26658273-720-540.jpg

Romeo Montague.

Photo From: http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/26600000/Juliet-Capulet-Montague-Photos-juliet-montague-1968-26651839-788-475.jpg

Juliet Capulet

Leave a comment below if you know the answer to the riddle down below.

What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?

 

 

Romeo and Juliet News Article: Two teenagers and the kinsman of the Prince found dead in Verona Churchyard

Two teenagers and the kinsman of the Prince found dead in Verona Churchyard.

            Last night, a young man (Romeo Montague)

Photo From: http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/24000000/Romeo-Montague-romeo-montague-1968-24056677-540-720.jpg

, woman (Juliet Capulet)

Photo From: http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/24300000/Juliet-Capulet-Montague-Photos-juliet-montague-1968-24386359-864-1152.jpg

, and David Paris

Photo From: http://images5.fanpop.com/image/quiz/789000/789637_1328842797816_270_277.jpg

was found dead in Verona’s Churchyard. Juliet was supposed to marry Paris, but never truly loved him. She was in love the young Romeo Montague. On Monday afternoon, Romeo and Juliet meet at Friar Laurence’s cell and get married in secret. Paris nor anybody had a clue that they were married. After the wedding, Friar came up with a plan to get Juliet out of marrying Paris. Friar came up with a planthat she takes a drug that will make her look dead so that she can sneak away with Romeo when she wakes up.  On Tuesday evening, Juliet takes the drugs and in the morning they find her “dead.” The drugs that she took make her heart beat so slowly that it seems you do not have pulse. On Thursday, the wedding was called off and Romeo thinks she is dead. On Thursday night, they laid Juliet in the churchyard. Paris and a servant are the first ones to arrive at Juliet’s tomb, and Romeo and Balthasar arrive shortly after that. Romeo gives Balthasar a letter (his suicide note) and sends him away to deliver it. It seems to believe that Romeo actually killed Paris, and Romeo kills himself because he could not live with his love. Right after Romeo committed suicide, Juliet wakes up, and stabs herself since she can’t live without Romeo.

Leave a comment below if you know the answer to this riddle, you use a knife to slice my head and weep beside me when I am dead. What am I?

Romeo and Juliet News Article: Two people found dead on Verona streets and a man banished from the city.

Two people found dead on Verona streets and a man banished from the city.

On Monday afternoon, the Montague and Capulet families were at it again! Mercutio, some may say to be jester or prankster, was seen arguing with Tybalt Capulet (Juliet Capulet’s cousin on her mother’s side). Then a young man from the Montague family stepped between them and told them to stop. That made Tybalt angry, so he challenged the young Romeo to battle but, Romeo refused to. So Mercutio, battles Tybalt for his young friend, and pleases the crowd by doing so. At first it started out as them two were merely playing fighting, but it ended with Mercutio bleeding out from a stab wound to the stomach. Romeo taking revenge for Mercutio’s death, he encounters Tybalt in battle. There were fighting down the streets of Verona with a crowd of Montague’s and Capulet’s following them. Tybalt kicked Romeo’s sword out of his hand and kicks dirt in Romeos face. Tybalt was about to pierce him with his sword but Romeo takes a dagger from his belt and stabs him in the stomach. Romeo flees the crime scene quickly. Later that day, The Prince orders that Romeo be banished.

Photo From: http://www.anglo-iren.de/afterjuliet/familytree.gif

This is a family tree of the Montague and Capulet families.

Photo From: http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/28100000/Mercutio-R-J-1968-Film-1968-romeo-and-juliet-by-franco-zeffirelli-28120943-640-480.jpg

This is Mercutio Montague.

Photo From: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lygz7bfRRA1r4qjcwo1_400.gif

This is Tybalt Capulet.

Photo From: http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5800000/romjuli-romeo-and-juliet-1968-5888692-520-300.jpg

This is Romeo.

Leave a comment below if you can answer this riddle: Throw it off the highest building, and I’ll not break. But put me in the ocean, and I will. What am I?

 

Kenzo’s Journal Entry

January 3, 1938

So today was not a good day. I encountered my old lover, (that I secretly still love), and it feels like she doesn’t even remember that we were engaged! I was having a great visit with Matsu and Sachi and then I found out that they have been lying to me about their passionate feelings they are sharing between them. Then I found out that Sachi covers the left side of her scarred face from her leprosy! I feel like when we were in our youth, everything was so much easier. Physically and mentally. Sure, I and Matsu always had competition for Sachi, as beautiful as ever, but not as tense as right now. Otherwise, I did meet a wonderful human being the other day! A young adult name Stephen that seems like a nice guy with a positive attitude. He seems to be doing Matsu good and keeping company.

 

Photo From: http://nd.dateinasia.com/Members/Photos/18/2821618_634797144740000000.jpg

This is what I imagine Kenzo would look like in real life.

Leave a comment below if you know the answer to this riddle: I run over fields and woods all day. Under the bed at night I sit not alone. My tongue hangs out, up and to the rear, waiting to be filled in the morning. What am I?

 

 

Matsu’s Letter to Stephen

Dear Stephen, I’m sorry, but I don’t like you very much. Are relationship is just not meant to happen. I mean come on, you’re like 12 and I’m 92! I don’t even know what type of music you like! If you want a real friend, stay out of my super Zen house and go into the world, find a fish in this koi pond we call life. Do you really want a wrinkly old koi fish like me? I hope you say no to that question. Also, I should bring up the fact that I saw you bathing house. As you seem like a nice kid, I have one job in life and that’s to keep my super sweet Zen house together. Alive. This is not a democracy anymore Stephen. You leave my house now. Over all though, biggest problem is that we have nothing in common.

Love Matsu

Photo From: http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/kimchan02.jpg

This is what I imagine Matsu looking like in real life.

Leave a comment below if you know the answer to this riddle: The man who invented it doesn’t want it. The man who bought it doesn’t need it. The man who needs it doesn’t know it. What is it?

Sachi’s Journal Entry

December 24, 1937

Well today was a nice day. My really good friend from way back when, Matsu, walked all the way to my house in the mountains to come say hello unexpectedly. Actually Matsu visiting unexpected was not the most unexpected thing to happen today. The most unexpected thing he did was bring his friend named Stephen. I didn’t mind have a new visitor, but a little warning that he was coming would have been nice so I could have been more prepared for him to visit. Also I had many questions for Stephen. Like how old is he? Did he have a young lad in his life? Does he play any sports? Etc. The next day, they came over again. This time Stephen brought me a present for my hospitality. It was the painting of the ocean. I thought it was lovely! I’m sure I will find a good place to hang the wonderful painting. I think me and Stephen are going to be wonderful friends!

Photo From:  http://www.danheller.com/images/Asia/Vietnam/HoiAn/People/Women/old-woman-smiling-2-big.jpg

This what I imagine Sachi would look like.

Leave a comment below if you know the answer to this riddle: I have holes in my top and bottom, my left and right, and in the middle. But I still hold water. What am I?