Core Course Topics
Introduction to literary terms and methods of discussing literature.
Biblical allusion and the influence of the Hebrew and Christian bibles on world literature.
The Hebrew bible
a. Genesis, Gilgamesh; b. Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; c. Psalms, Song of Songs; d. Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings; e. Ecclesiastes, Proverbs; f. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel; g. Jonah, Ruth, Esther; h. Job.
The Christian bible
a. The four Gospels, b. The letters of Paul, c. The Book of Revelations.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Formulate an interpretive thesis (as opposed to one which merely reports something factual about a biblical text).
Compose an essay which either analyzes a biblical text, for example by focusing on literary elements such as theme, character, setting, point of view, plot, imagery, metaphor, symbolism, etc., or analyzes the characteristic themes, features, and / or techniques of a given biblical writer's works, or analyzes more than one biblical text text by comparing and contrasting them.
Identify major figures, settings, and artistic devices of the Hebrew and Christian bibles .
Explain the history of canon formation, textual scholarship, translation into English, and interpretation of the Hebrew and Christian bibles.
Analyze the impact of the Hebrew and Christian bibles on world literature, history, and culture.