Levels of Thought

1. Levels of Thought “By the Waters of Babylon” Stephen Vincent Benét

2. Step One Across the top of the paper, write the title of the work and the author’s name “By the Waters of Babylon” Stephen Vincent Benét

3. Step Two • Draw three large concentric circles on the paper • One circle inside another circle inside a larger circle

4. For the innermost circle: • Concentrate on the concrete level of meaning, level one or reading ON the lines • Write the most significant word from the passage. • Quote the entire sentence in which the word appears – or enough of the sentence to reveal the word’s use in context. Document the source of the quotation in parentheses. • Write multiple dictionary definitions of the word (denotation). • Explain why the word is important to the meaning of the work by placing it in the context of the narrative.

5. Innermost Circle Knowledge: “My knowledge made me happy-it was like a fire in my heart.” (5.5) Learned info about a topic; all that is known; fact or state of knowing He has learned how to be brave, has been taught many secrets. He likes his knowledge and wants to know more.

6. Middle Circle • In the middle circle, concentrate on the abstract level of meaning, level two or reading BETWEEN the lines. • Referring to the text, draw four images from the assigned part of the reading. • Write an explanation of the link between each image and the word you have written in the innermost circle.

7. Middle Circle Bones: First thing he begins to learn not to fear. He gains info no one else has and learns that there were other people in the dead place once There used to be more Dead Places: Forbidden to go unless a priest or son of a priest. He gains knowledge of Dead Place and what is there. Knowledge: “My knowledge made me happy-it was like a fire in my heart.” (5.5) Learned info about a topic; all that is known; fact or state of knowing He has learned how to be brave, has been taught many secrets. He likes his knowledge and wants to know more. Spells and Chants: Read in the Old Books. He is taught info that no one else will learn Wind-Gods: Wind sounded like the voice of the Gods as they flew through the air. He is fascinated by stories of Gods and believes they are everywhere.

8. Outermost Circle • Concentrate on the thematic level of meaning, level three or reading BEYOND the lines. • Write TWO thematic statements drawn from the significant word you wrote in the innermost circle and the images you drew in the middle circle. Tie everything to the work as a whole.

9. Outermost Circle As knowledge is gained, one desires to acquire more knowledge to further himself or herself even more. Bones: First thing he begins to learn not to fear. He gains info no one else has and learns that there were other people in the dead place once There used to be more Knowledge: “My knowledge made me happy-it was like a fire in my heart.” (5.5) Learned info about a topic; all that is known; fact or state of knowing He has learned how to be brave, has been taught many secrets. He likes his knowledge and wants to know more. Spells and Chants: Read in the Old Books. He is taught info that no one else will learn Dead Places: Forbidden to go unless a priest or son of a priest. He gains knowledge of Dead Place and what is there. Wind-Gods: Wind sounded like the voice of the Gods as they flew through the air. He is fascinated by stories of Gods and believes they are everywhere. Knowledge is a fire that burns and drives people to learn more and do more.

10. As knowledge is gained, one desires to acquire more knowledge to further himself or herself even more. “By the Waters of Babylon” Stephen Vincent Benét Bones: First thing he begins to learn not to fear. He gains info no one else has and learns that there were other people in the dead place once There used to be more Knowledge: “My knowledge made me happy-it was like a fire in my heart.” (5.5) Learned info about a topic; all that is known; fact or state of knowing He has learned how to be brave, has been taught many secrets. He likes his knowledge and wants to know more. Spells and Chants: Read in the Old Books. He is taught info that no one else will learn. Dead Places: Forbidden to go unless a priest or son of a priest. He gains knowledge of Dead Place and what is there. Wind-Gods: Wind sounded like the voice of the Gods as they flew through the air. He is fascinated by stories of Gods & believes they are everywhere. Knowledge is a fire that burns and drives people to learn more and do more.