Biblical Narratives: Literary Approaches

Catalog description

Presents different trends in synchronic approaches applied to the Bible such as narrative criticism, semiotics, reader-response criticism, and situates them both in the postmodern cultural context and in the history of biblical exegesis. Explores various literary devices in biblical narratives, such as repetition, type-scenes, characterization, the change of points of view, the use of metaphors. Studies each technique on particular biblical texts, literally translated into English, with a special emphasis on how these techniques guide the interpretation and create meaning. Questions the significance of literary approaches for religious or ideological texts, such as the Hebrew Bible. Also considers criticisms raised against these approaches, assesses their limits, and envisions their future.