The tone set in the story “By the Waters of Babylon” by Stephen Vincent Benet is ominous. On page one paragraph one, Benet uses the word forbidden six times to describe the laws set in John’s society. This indicates to the reader something bad will come into play as John travels throughout his journey. Another word Benet refers to throughout the story is “Dead Places;” the words “forbidden,” “dead places,” and “spirit” help the reader understand what the author is establishing from the tone he is setting. In the first paragraph, on page one, the author is stating and explaining the laws that are “forbidden” in John’s society where “he who touches the metal must be a priest or the son of a priest.” We gain more of the ominous sense