How Many Miles to Babylon Student Assignment Booklet

HOW MANY MILES TO

BABYLON?

By Jennifer Johnston

Student Assignment Booklet

S. Tierney www.makingenglishteachingeasy.com

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Student Assignment Booklet:

Table of Contents:

Section one: Summary and analysis short answer questions (with guide notes) Note: How Many Mile To Babylon? - Penguin Books edition

How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 1-2 Qu. 1-6 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 3-9 Qu. 7-13 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 8-16 Qu. 14-18 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 17-30 Qu. 19-25 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 31-36 Qu. 26-35 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 37-43 Qu. 36-40 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 44-48 Qu. 41-43 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 49-62 Qu. 44-49 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 63-69 Qu. 50-53 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 70-86 Qu. 54-65 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 87-96 Qu. 66-69 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 97-100 Qu. 70-73 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 101-104 Qu. 74-78 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 105-109 Qu. 79-83 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 109-124 Qu. 84-92 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 124-132 Qu. 93-99 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 133-149 Qu. 100-115 How Many Miles To Babylon- Pages 149-156 Qu. 116-127

Section two: Ordinary Level Examination Questions

2011 p. 11 2008 p. 11-12 2006 p. 12-13 2003 p. 13

Section three: Higher Level Sample Examination Questions (Comparative Study) The Cultural Context p.14 Theme or Issue p.14 General Vision or Viewpoint p.14 Literary Genre p.14


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Section one- Summary and analysis:

Instruction: Answer all questions giving as much detail as possible where appropriate:

Pages 1-2

1. What is the narrators mood or tone?

2. Do you think he has a good relationship with his mother? Give a reason for your

answer.

3. Do you think the narrator has a good relationship with Major Glendinning? Give a

reason(s) for your answer.

4. Is the narrator religious? Give a reason for your answer.

5. What do you think is about to happen to the narrator? Give a reason(s) for your

answer.

6. Write a short paragraph detailing at least three things you have learned about the

narrator from the first two pages of the novel.

Pages 3-9

7. List two words Alec uses to describe his childhood.

8. What kind of a social class do you think Alec belongs to? Give a reason for your

answer.

9. What kind of man do you think Frederick is? Write a short paragraph explaining your

reasons.

10. What kind of woman do you think Alicia is? Write a short paragraph explaining your

reasons.

11. What kind of a relationship do you think Alecs mother and father have? Write a

short paragraph explaining your reasons.

12. The swans floated for nine months of the year to and fro on the water, sometimes

taking off with a great cracking of their wings, then, overcome with the energy they

had used up, they would allow themselves to drift on the wind like huge crumpled

pieces of paper hurled up in to the sky.

How does Alicia treat the swans?

13. What do we learn about Alecs feelings for his mother?


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Pages 8-16

14. In Alecs introduction of Jerry, it is obvious Jerry is from a lower social class. Find a

quotation from the text that supports this statement and explain how it supports

this.

15. Alec and Jerry make a bargain. What is it?

16. Do you think at his point in the novel that Alec and Jerry had a good friendship? Give

reasons for your answer.

17. Do you think Jerry has a good relationship with his mother? Give a reason for your

answer.

18. I had a friend. A private and secret friend. I never went to his house nor he to mine.

Why do you think Alec and Jerry kept their friendship secret?

Pages 17- 30

19. What do Jerry and Alec decide they will work at when they are older?

20. Do you think Jerry has a good opinion of women? Give a reason for your answer.

21. Do you think Jerry is anti-British? Give a reason for your answer.

22. War. I said. It didnt seem possible that war could ever touch us within the magical

circle of hills.

What do you think Alec means by this statement? Use evidence to support your

view.

23. Well no more Jerry. No Jeremiah. End to that. Yes.

Jerrys mother forbids him to see Jerry anymore and announces that he will be going

travelling with her. What is Fredericks opinion of their friendship?

24. Despite Frederick agreeing with Alicia over the boys friendship, what is her attitude

to him? Provide evidence to support your view.

25. Do you think Alec loves his father? Give a reason(s) for your answer.

Pages 31-36

26. Is Alec happy to be home from Europe? Provide evidence to support your view.

27. Frederick seems to have a great love for and an emotional connection to the land.

Find evidence to support this view.

28. Do you think Frederick is a physically strong man? Use evidence to support this view.

29. When speaking of his father Alec tells us: All in all he seemed glad of my company,

but in the same sort of way that a man on a desert island must be glad to see and

talk to his own shadow from time to time.


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What do you think this says about Fredericks character and his life in general?

30. When Alec and Jerry meet at the races, do you think their interaction is awkward or

strained? Give a reason(s) for your answer.

31. In this section we know that Alec and Jerry have not seen each other for a while, do

you think Alec is a good friend to Jerry despite not going to see him when he returns

from Europe? Give a reason for your answer.

32. Does Alec think that his mother loves him?

33. Alec and Frederick grow closer when Alec returns from Europe, how does this make

Alicia feel? Use evidence to support your answer.

34. What is Fredericks opinion of Ireland becoming involved in the war? Use evidence

from the text to support your view.

35. Do you think Alicia enjoys watching her husband getting so annoyed? Use evidence

from the text to support your view.

Pages 37- 43

36. Alicia announces that Alec has to go to war. What is Fredericks reaction to this?

Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

37. How does Alec feel about his mother after she vocalises her wish to send him to

war? Use evidence from the text to support your view.

38. I hope you never experience the humiliation of living with someone who is

completely indifferent to you. Humiliation.

What does this statement say about Alicia and Fredericks relationship? Give a

reason for your answer.

39. Why do you think Alicia wants Alec to go to war? Use evidence from the text to

support your answer.

40. Alicia believes that Frederick is an ineffective man. Basing your answer on

everything you have learned about Frederick so far in the novel, do you agree with

her? Give reasons for your answer.

p. 44- 48

41. Dispossessed in a sentence. What does Alicia tell Alec to make him feel

dispossessed?

42. Why do you think she chooses to tell him this now? Use evidence from the text to


43. Basing your answer on this section only, what kind of woman do you think Alicia is?


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Pages 49 62

44. Jerry reacts angrily when Alec says that he heard he was with the Shinners. Why do

you think he does this?

45. What is Jerrys reason for enlisting?

46. Alec tells Jerry he will go too. What is his reason for wanting to enlist?

47. Jerry doesnt believe that Alicia told the truth about Frederick not being Alecs

father. Why do you think he doesnt believe her?

48. Do you think Alicia is telling the truth? Give a reason for your answer.

49. You talk as if you were older than the hills. Do you think that Jerry is wise for his

age? Give reasons for your answer...

Pages 63 69

50. How does Alicia react when Alec tells her he is leaving for the army today? Use

evidence from the text to support your view.

51. How does Alec act towards his mother at breakfast? Use evidence from the text to

support your view.

52. How does Frederick react when Alec announces he is leaving for the army? Use

evidence from the text to support your view.

53. What are Alecs last words to his mother before he leaves?

Pages 70 86

54. What is your initial impression of Major Glendinning? Use evidence from the text to

support your view.

55. Despite thinking that Alec is incompetent, what impression does Major Glendinning

get of Alec?

56. Do you think Major Glendinning makes Alec nervous? Give a reason for your answer.

57. Why does Major Glendinning refuse to allow the men to eat pork when they got

near the front?

58. What are your first impressions of Bennett?

59. What is Bennetts attitude to war? Use evidence from the text to support your view.

60. How does Jerry feel about the war at this point? Use evidence from the text to


61. I wouldnt wish that on the fella. What is Jerry talking about here?

62. What does this show about Jerrys character?

63. What system was in place for the soldiers going to the front line?

64. It wasnt the thought of my death that made me sweat, there were moments in fact

that to die would have been preferable than to continue to live. I was afraid that


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one day I might wake up and find that I had come to accept the grotesque obscenity

of the way we lived.

In your own words, write a brief description of what life was like in the trenches for

the soldiers.

65. How do Bennetts views of war change? Use evidence from the text to support your

answer.

Pages 87 96

66. Bennett says that the men would never follow him or Alec into battle and that Major

Glendinning is the only one who will really make them forget themselves and run in

the right direction when the moment comes.

Why do you think this is the case? Give reasons for your answer.

67. Why do you think that Major Glendinning forbids Alec to talk to Jerry anymore?

68. What is Major Glendinnings opinion of the Irish? Use evidence from the text to

support your view.

69. Bennett tells Alec: I never expected to admire gentleness in a man. What is going

on between Bennett and Alec here?

Pages 97 100

70. Where does Jerry want to get transferred to?

71. Why does he want to be transferred there?

72. What is Bennetts response to this?

73. Until this point in the novel how has Alec tried to make Jerrys life a little more

bearable at war?

Pages 101 104

74. In the pub, Jerry explains that he is a republican. What are his real/other motives for

joining the army? Use evidence from the text to support your view.

75. Thatll be alright. He put out his hand and touched mine. Therell be time enough

for what we want to do when weve done what we have to do.

Explain the circumstances surrounding this quotation. What does it say about Alec

and Jerrys friendship and Jerrys views of Irish Independence?


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76. What does Jerry think about Home Rule? Use evidence from the text to support your

answer.

77. Alec is surprised that Jerry has never mentioned all this before. Why do you think

Jerry didnt tell Alec his views about Irish freedom before now? Use evidence from

the text to support your view.

78. What does Bennett say he might do if he doesnt become a hero in Flanders?

Pages 105 109

79. When it comes to fighting, which it will do, you will fight. Anyone who thinks

otherwise will have me to reckon with, and I warn you all, here and now, that I have

no scruples about meting out the ultimate.

What do you think Major Glendinning is saying here?

80. What does Major Glendinning think about Jerry wanting to join the horse lines?

81. Alicia writes Alec a letter telling him news from home. She also tells him that she

feels wounded. Why does she feel like this?

82. Bennett tears up Alecs letter from his mother. Why does he do this?

83. I wrote a detailed description of the table at which I sat. At that moment it seemed

very important.

Alicia asks for news of the war but Alec writes about the table. Why do you think

Alec writes to his mother about the table rather than other important things that are

going on?

P. 109 124

84. What can the men hear from out beyond the wire?

85. How long has this been going on for?

86. What does Alec apologise to Jerry for?

87. Is Jerry annoyed with Alec over this? Use evidence from the text to support your

view.

88. When Major Glendinning decides that they will go to see the situation with the

screaming man, what is Alec afraid of?

89. Do you think it was courageous of Major Glendinning to go beyond the wire and put

the screaming man out of his misery?

90. Do you think Major Glendinning has any compassion for the screaming man? Use

evidence from the text to support your answer.

91. What does Major Glendinning mean by the Irish Disease?

92. What does Major Glendinning say hell make of Alec if nothing else?


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Pages 124 -132

93. In Fredericks letter what does he hope Alec will do?

94. Does Frederick tell Alec that he misses him?

95. What news does Jerry get from home?

96. What does Jerry ask Alec to do for him?

97. What is Major Glendinnings response to this request?

98. I was useless as far as the men were concerned. I could neither control them nor

give them any comfort in any way.

What causes Alec to think this?

99. What does this show about Major Glendinning?

Pages 133- 149

100. What happens to Bennett?

101. What does Major Glendinning say the charge will be for Jerry if hes found?

102. Why does Jerry come back?

103. What happened to Jerrys father?

104. Does Jerry seem upset by the news of his father?

105. Why does Jerry want to write to his mother himself to tell her the news?

106. What does Alec do to keep Jerry warm?

107. At first, what does Alec want Jerry to do?

108. The beating of our hearts was like the cracking wings of swans lifting slowly

from the lake, leaving disturbed water below.

What do you think this quotation says about Alec and Jerrys friendship?

109. What are Jerrys options?

110. What does Alec think he should do?

111. What does O Keefe suggest Alec do when he finds Jerry in his room?

112. Some sort of fancy dress, sir.

Why do you think the Major reacts so strongly to Alecs remark about his

uniform?

113. Alec stands up to Major Glendinning for the first time. Give details on the

argument he makes in defence of Jerry.

114. Why do you think Major Glendinning does not punish Alec? Use evidence

from the text to support your answer.


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115. Alec is conflicted about his feelings toward Major Glendinning: I could never

work out whether I hated him or respected him. He touched me in the oddest

of ways.

Why do you think Alec is conflicted in his feelings towards Major

Glendinning? Give reasons for your answer.

Pages 149 156

116. Why do you think Alec reacts so strongly when one of the men shoots the

swan?

117. Why do you think the men dont understand his reaction to the swan being

killed?

118. Major Glendinning informs Alec that Jerry has been sentenced to death.

What does he tell Alec he must do?

119. Major Glendinning says he dislikes all this as much as Alec does. Do you

believe him?

120. What does Major Glendinning warn will happen if Alec refuses to command

the firing squad?

121. Alec questions Major Glendinning on how he became so evil. What is his

response?

122. What do Alec and Jerry reminisce about when Alec goes to see him at the

detention centre?

123. Why, in Jerrys opinion, did they take his shoe laces from him?

124. In your own words, describe the moment Alec shoots Jerry.

125. How does the book end?

126. Why do you think Alec chose to kill Jerry?

127. Do you think Alec is a good friend for killing Jerry? Give reasons for your

answer.

End of Summary and analysis


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Section two- Examination Questions:

Paper, Ordinary Level

2011

D. How Many Miles to Babylon? Jennifer Johnston

Answer all of the questions.

1. (a) Describe an occasion, in the early part of the novel, which reveals the close

friendship between Alec and Jerry. (10)

(b) Do you think that the relationship between Alec and his mother was good or

bad? Give one reason for your answer. (10)

2. What is your opinion of Frederick Moore, Alecs father?

Explain your answer. (10)

3. Answer one of the following: [Each part carries 30 marks]

(i) During the course of the novel Alec learns many bitter lessons: about people,

social position, duty, friendship, etc.

Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer based on

your reading of the novel.

OR

(ii) Write an article about Jennifer Johnstons How Many Miles To Babylon? for

your school magazine in which you consider whether the novel is relevant to

young people today.

OR

(iii) Imagine you are Jerry and you have been condemned to death.

Write a final letter to be sent to your mother.

You might write about your experiences in France, memories of your youth in

Ireland, your friendship with Alec, your search for your father, your regrets

etc.

2008

C. How Many Miles to Babylon? Jennifer Johnston


1. (a) Alec admits that he lacked team spirit.


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Do you think he would have been a more successful person if he had been sent to

school? Explain your answer. (10)

(b) Describe what happened on the last evening/night before Alec and Jerry joined

the army. (10)

2. Describe a pleasant or disturbing event in the novel and explain why you found it so.

(10)


(i) Major Glendinning has been asked to write a report recording his opinion of

Alec Moore after Alec has been executed.

Write that report.

OR

(ii) How many Miles To Babylon? is a great read.

Write an article for a magazine, in which you support or oppose the above

view of the novel.

OR

(iii) Imagine you are either Alec or Jerry. Write the letter that you would send to

either your mother or father describing your war experience.

2006

B. How Many Miles to Babylon? Jennifer Johnston


1. (a) Describe what life is like for Alec living at home with his mother and father.

Support your views with reference to the novel. (10)

(b) We had great times.

What, in your view, are the great times Alec and Jerry had together? Explain your

answer. (10)

2. Do you understand why Alec shot Jerry? Explain your answer. (10)


(i) Imagine that Alicia, Alecs mother, kept a diary. Write the diary entry she

might have written on the day Alec went away to enlist in the army.

OR

(ii) In the beginning of the novel, Alec says I love no living person.

From your reading of the novel, do you think that this is true? Explain your

answer with reference to the text.


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OR

(iii) It is every young mans duty to fight for his country.

Based on your reading of the novel, write out the speech that you would

make in response to this statement.

2003

C. How Many Miles to Babylon? Jennifer Johnston


1. (a) Briefly describe Alecs home life with his mother and father. (10)

(b) In your opinion, why did Alicia, Alecs mother, encourage him to go and fight in

the war? (10)

2. Do you think Alec was a good friend to Jerry? Explain your answer. (10)

3. Answer one of the following questions: [Each part carries 30 marks]

(i) Imagine you were with Alec and Jerry on the battlefields of World War I.

Write some diary entries telling what life was like.

OR

(ii) Mother, just a few lines to tell you what I think of you...

Complete this letter from Alec to his mother, Alicia, saying the things you

think he should have said to her.

OR

(iii) What is your opinion of Major Glendinning, Alecs commanding officer?

Explain your opinion.

End of Sample Examination questions at ordinary level.


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Section three- Sample Examination Questions- Comparative Study

Paper, Higher Level

Sample questions:

The Cultural Context:

Understanding the cultural context of a text adds to our enjoyment of a good narrative.

In light of the above statement write an essay comparing the cultural contexts of the texts

you have studied in your comparative course. Support the comparisons you make with

reference to the texts. (70 marks)

Theme or Issue:

(a) Compare the treatment of a theme or issue in two of the texts you have studied as part of your comparative course. Support the comparisons you make with reference to the text. (40)

(b) Discuss the treatment of the same theme or issue in a third text in the light of your

answer in part (a) above. (30)

Literary Genre:

The creation of memorable characters is part of the art of good story-telling.

Write an essay comparing the ways in which memorable characters were created and

contributed to your enjoyment of the stories in the texts you have studied for your

comparative course. It will be sufficient to refer to the creation of one character from each

of your chosen texts. (70 marks)

General Vision or Viewpoint:

The general vision or viewpoint relates to the authorial/ directorial outlook on life.

However, this viewpoint inevitably influences our perspective on humanity and on the

worlds in which a narrative is set.

In light of the above statement, compare the general vision and viewpoint in at least two of

the texts you have studied for your comparative course. (70 marks)

How Many Miles to Babylon Student Assignment Booklet

Documents

babylon pages

short paragraph

alecs mother

good relationship

kind of man

kind of woman

narrator religious

alecs introduction of