On Monday in class, we are reviewing the following material on the Bible as literature. handout in class today; copy below.
You will have a test on the character list on Friday, November 30.
The Bible as Literature excerpted from Alicia D. Lloyd
I. Introduction
The Bible not only has had a great influence on Western culture, including Western literature, but also has been considered a work of high literary quality in its own right, both in its original languages and in translation. So it is not surprising that a survey of the Bible and its influence is often considered an important part of an English language or literature curriculum. The Bible introduces techniques and ideas that can be applied to the study of other works of literature as well. These include introducing the historical and cultural background of the work, describing how understanding the genre used is related to the interpretation of meaning, discussing the ways that the work has been used by other authors and artists, and comparing translations and how the work has influenced the usage of its original language as well as the languages it has been translated into.
II. Historical and Cultural Background
Since the materials contained in the Bible were produced or edited between 2,000 and 4,000 years ago in the Middle East, it is essential to have some background knowledge of the environment which the Bible materials represent.
The two-thirds of the Bible that is referred to as the Old Testament, or the Hebrew Scriptures, can be considered to be a history of the Jewish people, including their origins and mission in the world, while the New Testament describes how this mission was fulfilled and expanded to include the world’s other nations. Just as at present, in ancient times Israel was a small nation, greatly influenced by the empires which waxed and waned around it.
III. Genre and Interpretation
Though the Bible is one volume, it is also a library of 66 books composed and edited by different human authors over a long period of time. It can particularly be noted that the arrangement of the 39 books of the Old Testament are written in Hebrew. Four of the major genres which are found within the Bible include narrative, poetry, letters, and prophecy or revelation. The techniques for understanding narrative—the analysis of plot and characters—are the same as those used in reading fiction or non-fiction accounts in any language, and the Bible writers have long been recognized as superb storytellers. The parables, or short stories with a point, were used as a teaching technique by Jesus. The poetry or letters have features unique to Hebrew poetry, while the letters follow an ancient letter-writing convention. Prophecy or revelation is perhaps the most unusual genre in the Bible, and its content is expressed through poetry or prose. The classroom environment is interested in looking at the characters and narrative of the Bible, not the sermon points. This is to enrich the understanding of the literature covered.
IV. The Bible’s Literary Influence
There are three main ways in which the Bible has influenced or been used in Western literature. Over the ages, writers have loved to mine the Bible’s narrative riches, taking a Bible story and retelling it in a new form: a long novel, a stage play, a musical, an opera, or a screenplay. One of the examples is the story of Joseph and his brothers from the Old Testament Book of Genesis. In the twentieth century this story was adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber for one of his earliest Broadway productions, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The success of this musical with urbane New Yorkers is a testament to the power of this 4,000-year-old story.
Sometimes, a writer uses a Bible story as a starting point and then expands it with new characters and events not in the original. An example of this is the short story, “The Other Wise Man” (which was later made into the film The Fourth Wise Man), based on the story of the visit of the Magi to Jesus and his parents in Bethlehem, found in the Gospel of Matthew.
The most abundant kind of inspiration that the Bible has provided for Western literature is, of course, the many themes to be found in its stories and teachings. Often the use of a Biblical phrase in the title of a novel or play will indicate the presence of such a theme. Other times, there is no explicit reference in the particular literary work, yet those familiar with the Bible will recognize the source of the themes. Even works that seem to be in direct opposition to certain Biblical concepts have none the less been influenced by the Biblical material.
One of the Reformation’s tenets was that every Christian believer should be able to read and interpret the Bible for themselves, thus providing a huge impetus for both translating the Bible into local languages and extending the availability of at least basic education. These twin factors have meant that the most widely used of these early translations have exerted a great influence on the vocabulary and idioms of the local languages. A prime example of this is the King James Version (KJV) of 1611, which is still in wide circulation, even though the English of four hundred years ago can be difficult for modern readers to understand. The long popularity of this translation has meant that many idiomatic phrases still in use in modern English have been derived from it.
Character List
1. Jesus of Nazareth - The central figure of the New Testament, whose life, death, and resurrection are chronicled in the books. The four Gospels describe Jesus’s life until his resurrection, and the remainder of the New Testament concerns itself with the community of followers of Jesus that steadily grows after his death.
2. Paul of Tarsus - More than half of the books in the New Testament have been attributed to Paul of Tarsus, the great missionary who directs the spread of Christianity after the death of Jesus. In these books, Paul uses his keen mind and robust intellect to develop Christianity’s first sophisticated theology. In the period immediately following Jesus’s death, he is an active persecutor of Jesus’s followers, but he later converts and becomes the most active proponent of Christ’s disciples.
3. Peter - The first of Jesus’s disciples. Extremely devoted to Jesus and his mission, Simon is able to recognize Jesus as the Messiah before the other apostles. As a result, Jesus makes him the “rock”—renaming Simon “Peter,” which means rock—on which his church would be built (Matthew 16:13–20). Although Peter denies his association with Jesus after Jesus’s arrest, Peter later becomes one of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem.
4. John the Baptist - The forerunner to Jesus, spreading the word of Jesus’s imminent arrival. John the Baptist is an old ascetic who lives in the desert, wears a loincloth, and feeds on locusts and honey.
5. Mary Magdalene - A female follower of Jesus since the time of his Galilean ministry, when he exorcises her of seven demons (Luke 8:2). Mary Magdalene is a close friend of Jesus. She is one of the women who discover that Jesus’s body is not in his grave. Following this event, she witnesses the resurrected Jesus. She is also known as Mary of Magdala.
6. Pontius Pilate - As prefect, Pontius Pilate governs Judea by the authority of the Roman Empire during the time of Jesus’s trial in Jerusalem. The Gospels differ on the extent of Pilate’s responsibility for Jesus’s crucifixion. What is clear, however, is that Pilate holds the ultimate authority to determine whether or not Jesus should be executed.
7. Judas Iscariot - One of the Twelve Apostles, Judas betrays Jesus to the authorities in exchange for thirty pieces of silver. According to Matthew, Judas commits suicide out of remorse (Matthew 27:3–10).
8. Mary, Mother of Jesus - Luke’s narrative of Jesus’s infancy focuses heavily on the courage and faith of Mary, who becomes impregnated by the Holy Spirit. She is also one of the only people who remains with Jesus through the crucifixion. Gospel writers who have a high esteem for the female leaders in the early church community point to Mary as a model of discipleship.
9. Joseph - Mary’s husband. Joseph is a direct paternal descendent of the great King David, which makes Jesus an heir to the Davidic line. This heritage reinforces Jesus’s place in the Jewish tradition.
10. Luke - A traveling companion of Paul. Christian tradition dating back to the second century CE. claims that Luke is the author of the Gospel that bears his name and of Acts of the Apostles.
11. Caiaphas - The high priest who presides over Jesus’s trial. Though it is Pilate who declares the verdict of Jesus’s guilt, the Gospel writers are insistent that Caiaphas is also responsible for the crucifixion.
12. Herod the Great - The King of Palestine from 37 to 4 BCE According to Matthew, Herod hears of Jesus’s birth and decides to kill the child, who is prophesied to become king of the Jews. To evade Herod’s orders, Joseph takes Jesus and Mary to Egypt
13. Moses- an early leader of the Hebrews and probably the most important figure in Judaism. He was raised in the court of the Pharaoh in Egypt, but then led the Hebrew people out of Egypt. Moses is said to have talked with God. His story is told in the Biblical book Exodus
14. David-Warrior, musician, poet (author of Psalm 23 - The Lord is My Shepherd), friend of Jonathan, and king, David (1005-965 BCE) is familiar from the story of his killing the giant Goliath with his sling during the battle that the Israelites fought against the Philistines. He was from the tribe of Judah, and followed Saul as king of the United Monarchy. His son Absalom (born to Maacha) rebelled against David and was killed. After causing the death of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, David married her. Their son Solomon (968-928BCE ) was the last king of the United Monarchy.
15. Solomon- (ruled 968-928BCE), born in Jerusalem to David and Bathsheba, was the last king of the United Monarchy. He is credited with finishing the First Temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant. The name of Solomon is associated with proverbial wisdom. One example of his wisdom is the story a disputed baby. Solomon suggested to the 2 would-be mothers that he use his sword to divide the baby in half. The real mother was willing to give her baby away. Solomon is also known for meeting with the Queen of Sheba. The Wisdom of Solomon
16. Nebuchadnezzar- (ruled c. 605 BCE.-562 BCE) was an important Babylonian king whose Biblical significance lies in his destroying the First Temple in Jerusalem and starting the period of Babylonian Captivity.
17. Cyrus-While in the Babylonian captivity, the Jews looked to prophecies about their release. Contrary to expectation, the non-Jewish king of Persia, Cyrus the great, was the one to conquer the Chaldean (Babylonian) Kingdom (in 538 BCE.), and secure their release and return to their homeland.. Cyrus is mentioned 23 times in the Old Testament. (Hebrew Bible) Books mentioning him include Chronicles, Ezra, and Isaiah. The main source on Cyrus is Herodotus.
18. Maccabees- the name of a priestly Jewish family which ruled Palestine in the second and first centuries BCE and wrested Judea from the rule of the Seleucids and their Greek practices. They are the founders of the Hasmonean dynasty. The Jewish holiday Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabees' recapture of Jerusalem and reconsecration of the Temple in December 164 BCE.
19. Herod Antipas and Herodias- Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great, was the ruler of Galilee and Peraea from 4 BCE-CE 39. Herodias was the niece of Herod Antipas who divorced Herod's brother to marry Herod. This marriage violated Jewish custom and John the Baptist is said to have criticized it. Herod and Herodias' daughter (Salome) is said to have asked for the head of John the Baptist in exchange for dancing for an audience. Herod may have had a role in the trial of Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment