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Summary Of By The Waters Of Babylon

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Erika Wang Mitrevski ENG4U1 March 9, 2015 State the topic question you are answering for this condensed essay outline: How does the author depict humanity’s destructive nature? Theme Statements: The thirst for knowledge is inevitable in human nature. Harnessing Statements: The short story “By the Waters of Babylon” explores the idea of a post-apocalyptic world where the advancement of technology leads an entire city to extermination. As a result, the consequences of mankind’s mistakes determines the outcome of the future. Thesis Statement: Stephen Vincent Benét’s “By the Waters of Babylon” uses the rise and fall of civilization to demonstrates the destructiveness of mankind. BODY PARAGRAPH 1 Topic Sentence: The desire for knowledge puts man on an endless pursuit to satisfy their curiosity. Paraphrase/Quotation: Essentially, one may never be satisfied no matter the abundance of knowledge he holds. John’s “knowledge and lack of knowledge burned in [him]” (Benét 1). Analysis of Evidence: Living in a society where there is little understanding of the world and a man with curiosity, John goes on a journey hoping to attain more knowledge. Men can be blinded by their goals and ambitions that they do not think about the consequences of their actions. The knowledge that people in the past have attained allowed them to be intelligent and prosperous. Man’s arrogance ultimately leads them to destroying humanity. Paraphrase/Quotation: Knowledge equips us with strength and

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