Alas, Babylon Part 2 Test
 Chapters 8-13
 Conflict types (man vs. man, vs. self, vs. nature)
 Literary Devices (simile, theme, imagery, allusion)
Chapter 8 – Key Events
 4 month time jump!
 Randy misses several “luxury” items: coffee and razors!
 However, it is what he does not miss that is most important: whiskey.
Randy is changing as a character since he no longer feels the need
to drink. His priorities are changing.
 Randy goes to Marines Park to trade his scotch. He hopes for coffee,
but there is none.
 Jim Hickey gives Randy honey for the children without expecting
anything in return.
 Theme: Human nature is essentially good!
 Radiation concerns in town: Pete Hernandez, Porky Logan, and Bill
Cullen
 Randy writes “poison” outside of Porky Logan’s home because
people don’t understand that radiation is a real threat!
Chapter 8 - Characterization
Pete and Rita Hernandez
-Radiation poisoning = contaminated jewelry
from Porky Logan
-Traded for the jewelry/valuables in order to be
“prepared” when the world goes back to “normal.”
They think the economy might rebound.
How are they making their decisions?
Based on GREED!
Chapter 9 – Key Events
 Porky Logan dies from radiation poisoning.
 Peyton’s “If I grow up…” comment
 Randy and Lib are upset to hear that Peyton has concerns on if she
will have a future or not.
 Randy uses his gun to “convince” men to be pallbearers.
His use of force demonstrates his leadership.
 Martial law = Randy is the new leader
Chapter 9 - Characterization
Benjamin Franklin
 Ben and Caleb stay up all
night to protect the Henry’s
chicken coop. Something is
stealing/eating the animals.
 Ben shoots a wild dog
(described as vicious and wild
like a wolf), and he cries at
thinking he might have shot
someone’s pet.
 Ben has to grow up! (loss of
his innocence / childhood)
Chapter 10 – Key Events
 Dan gets attacked by the
highwaymen. He is tricked
into pulling over the car when
he sees an injured woman on
the side of the road. He
realizes it’s a trick when she
smiles at him.
 They borrow a grocery truck
from Rita Hernandez to lure
the highwaymen out of hiding.
Chapter 10 - Characterization
Randy Bragg
-Wants to get revenge for Dan!
-Plans to kill the highwaymen.
Chapter 11 – Key Events
 Randy and Lib get married! (same day as Easter and
revenge plan)
 Last minute change to the revenge plan: Malachi will drive
because he looks more vulnerable to an attack due to his
race and work clothes.
 Drilled holes in the side of the grocery truck = ambush the
highwaymen
 Malachi gets shot during the attack. (dies later)
 Randy and the men hang the one surviving highwayman in
order to warn others from trying to attack Fort Repose.
Chapter 11 - Characterization
Randy Bragg
-Strong leader for community
-Democratic leader because he LISTENS to
those around him when he makes decisions
Example: Randy listens to his friends and allows Malachi
to drive the grocery truck despite the original plan.
Chapter 12 – Key Events
 Hypnosis = anesthesia
 Dan hypnotizes Ben Franklin when his appendix must be taken out.
 August is the month of disaster, and the group runs out of salt
and fish.
 Diary from Bragg ancestor = fixes salt issue (Blue Crab Run)
 Peyton = catches fish using goldfish and advice from old Preacher
Henry
 First post-Day baby = sign of HOPE
 Peyton becomes a hero when she discovers a secret room
upstairs in the attic with useful supplies: music (phonograph),
razors, lamps, a kitchen pot, and copper pipes.
Chapter 13 – Key Events
 Dan loves Helen = she is still hoping that Mark might be
alive
 The U.S. government drops paper leaflets from a helicopter
over Fort Repose. The leaflets inform the citizens that
government officials will be surveying the area to look for
contamination. Townspeople start to use the leaflets as
money, which is a sign that a stable economy is
returning to Fort Repose.
 The new capital of the United States is Denver, Colorado.
Chapter 13 – Key Events
 Paul Hart shows up in Fort Repose on the helicopter,
and he offers to help Randy. Randy requests that he
bring back medical supplies and a new pair of
glasses for Dan.
 Even though the United States won the war against
Russia, the damage has already been done. Many
cities across the U.S. are dealing with death and
destruction.
Conflict Types
 Man versus Man: when a character has a problem with
another character
 “The man with the bat put his hand on the door handle. At the instant he turned it,
Malachi uncoiled, hurling himself through the door and at him, pistol clubbed”
 Man versus Nature: when a character has a problem with
a force of nature such as cold, storms, animals, etc.
 “‘It wasn’t a dog any longer. In times like these, dogs can turn into wolves.’”
 Man versus Self: when a character must make a decision
about a problem or a struggle he is having with himself
 “Randy wondered whether he was being selfish, trading for coffee.”
Literary Devices
 Simile – a comparison of two unlike things using the words
LIKE or AS
 “It was packed full, watch bands twisting and curling like gold snakes.”
 Theme – the central message or life lesson the author is
trying to convey
 “The defective bee, unable to cope with its environment, is rejected by
nature before birth. I think this will be true of man.”
 Imagery – descriptive words/phrases that appeal to the
five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell)
 “Sam Hazzard was not as tall as Lib and his weathered skin was drawn
tautly over fine bones.”
 Allusion – a reference to a famous person, place, event in
history , or literary work
 “Her father came in, a thin and wan Caesar in his sandals and white robe.”