Spring 2000	Robert Longsworth
English 213 MWF 10-10:50	Rice 128 x8571
King 101	Hours: Tu 10-11:30; Th 8-9:30 (or by appointment)
	E-mail: Robert.Longsworth@oberlin.edu

The Bible and Literature in English

The chief objective of this course is to provide some perspective on the Bible as a work (often translated into English) in its own right; as the object of various interpretive approaches; and as a powerful influence on writers for whom English has been or is a literary language. The principal text for the course will be the Bible itself; but required readings will also include some works (available in a supplemental text or on reserve in the library) that reflect certain interpretive approaches to the Bible and evidence of its literary influence.

Requirements for the course will include class participation; the submission of at least four journal entries (dealing with Biblical allusions encountered by the student); two hour exams; and a term paper.

The Texts for the course are (1.) the Bible in an English translation and (2.) David Jasper and Stephen Prickett, eds., The Bible and Literature: A Reader (Oxford: Blackwell, 1999) [J&P]. With respect to the Biblical text itself, there are several options for the reader's own use, and no particular version will be mandated. On the other hand, the student may find it useful to draw on the kind of assistance that is available in The New Oxford Annotated Bible, copies of which are available through the college bookstore. Every serious student of the Bible, however, ought to be aware both that translating the Bible is an activity with an important history of its own; and that writers themselves have been influenced by one or more particular translations. Becoming familiar with differences (as well as similarities) in some important versions of the Bible in English is therefore important. Copies of several of these texts are available at various places in cyberspace, in the reference collection, in the reserve room, and elsewhere in the library.

Readings from Works on Reserve will be indicated below in the following fashion:

Abrams, M. H., ed., The Norton Anthology of English Literature [various editions] (New York: W.W.Norton): NAEL
Alter, Robert, and Frank Kermode, eds., The Literary Guide to the Bible (Cambridge: Harvard, 1987): LGB
Bercovitch, Sacvan, ed., Typology and Early American Literature (Amherst: U of Massachusetts, 1972). Gardner, Helen, ed. The New Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250-1950 (Oxford, 1972): OBV
The Norton Anthology of American Literature , ed. Ronald Gottesman et al., 2 vols. (New York: W.W. Norton, 1979): NAAL
Gunn, Giles, ed., The Bible and American Arts and Letters (Philadelphia, 1983).
Kugel, James, and Rowan Greer, Early Biblical Interpretation (Philadelphia, 1986).
Melville, Herman, Moby Dick [various editions].
Milton, John, Poetical Works [various editions] (Oxford, 1955, etc.).
The Oxford Anthology of English Literature, ed. Frank Kermode and John Hollander, 2 vols. (Oxford, 1973): OXAEL
Prickett, Stephen, Reading the Text: Biblical Criticism and Literary Theory (Oxford, 1991): SP
Schwartz, Regina, ed., The Book and the Text: the Bible and Literary Theory (Oxford: Blackwell, 1990).

Furthermore, other works to be found on reserve will provide useful (but not required) readings in Biblical background and influences. They include:

Frye, Northrop, The Great Code (NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982);
Josipovici, Gabriel, The Book of God: A Response to the Bible (New Haven: Yale, 1988);
Rosenberg, David, ed. Communion: Contemporary Writers Reveal the Bible in Their Lives (NY: Anchor, 1996).

The Format of the course will consist chiefly of lectures, with questions and discussion warmly welcomed.

Recommended Resources include the following works, all available in the Reference Collection at Mudd Library:

Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. 6 vols. (New York: Doubleday, 1992): a good source for background information on names, places, traditions, and extensive scholarship dealing with the Bible.
Jeffrey, David Lyle, ed., A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992): organized topically, this work offers useful information about ways in which writers in English have employed the Bible in their work.
The New Interpreter's Bible, 12 vols. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1995-99): provides extensive exegetical commentary on the Bible (in the NSRV and NIV), together with substantial background essays on the Bible and each of its parts.
The Oxford Companion to the Bible, ed. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan, is a single volume resource for background information, organized topically; it is accompanied by a CD-ROM that contains further materials (such as the text of the Bible and maps of places referred to in it).

In addition, there are several concordances available. For example, see John R. Kohlenberger, The NRSV Concordance Unabridged (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991); or any of the several editions of A Complete Concordance to the Old and New Testament, compiled by Alexander Cruden on the basis of the King James Version.

The Schedule of topics to be considered and assignments to be carried out in preparation for each day's class follows:

Feb 7	Introductory Lecture: About the Course
Feb 9	The Problem of Evil Read: Job; William Blake, "To the Accuser Who is the God of This World" (from The Gates of Paradise (1818): Truly My Satan thou art but a Dunce And dost not know the Garment from the Man Every Harlot was a Virgin once Nor canst thou ever change Kate into Nan Tho thou art Worshipd by the Names Divine Of Jesus & Jehovah: thou art still The Son of Morn in weary Nights decline The lost Travellers Dream under the Hill
Feb 11	In the Beginning Read: Genesis 1-10; "Introduction to the Old Testament," in LGB (11-35); J&P 69-79, 95-109
Feb 14	Biblical Narrative and Cultural Mythology Read: Genesis 11-25:18; J&P 112-122
Feb 16	Patriarchs and the Promise Read: Genesis 25:19-50; J&P 125-146 Journal Entry Due
Feb 18	Freedom and the Law Read: Exodus; Leviticus 15-18; H. Longfellow, "The Jewish Cemetery at Newport" (handout)
Feb 21	Historical Perspectives on Interpreting the Bible Read: J. Kugel and R. Greer, Early Biblical Interpretation, ch. 5; Thomas M. Davis, "The Traditions of Puritan Typology," in S. Bercovitch, Typology; J&P 12-43
Feb 23	The Promised Land Read: Numbers 9-15; 17; 20-24; Deuteronomy 1-11; 27-34; Joshua 1-12; 23-24
Feb 25	Heroic Legends Read: Judges; Mieke Bal, "Dealing/With/Women," in Schwartz, The Book and the Text, ch. 1 Journal Entry Due
Feb 28	With Inward Eyes Illuminated: a Puritan's Samson Read: J. Milton, Samson Agonistes (OXAEL 1.1369; and Milton, Poetical Works)
Mar 1	Saul and David: the Glorious Past Read: I Samuel, II Samuel; J&P 149-158
Mar 3	Folklore and Proverbial Wisdom Read: Ruth; Ecclesiastes; J. Keats, "Ode to a Nightingale" (NAEL, OBV 564, OXAEL 1.538)
Mar 6	Exile: Losing the Land Read: I Kings; II Kings; J&P 160-163; G. Byron, "The Destruction of Sennacherib" (handout)
Mar 8	The Politics of Prophecy Read: Jeremiah (esp. chs. 1-12; 31; 51-52); Ezekiel (esp. chs. 1-7; 17; 20-24; 37-43:12); G. Hopkins, "Thou Art Indeed Just Lord" (NAEL 2.1553); T. Hardy, "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'" (NAEL 2.1710)
Mar 10	Sexual Love and Spiritual Allegory Read: Song of Songs; J&P 188-202
Mar 13	The Sweet Singer of Israel Read: Psalms 1, 13, 19, 23, 24, 42; J&P 165-179
Mar 15	HOUR EXAM
Mar 17	God and the Lyric Poet Read: Psalms 46, 51, 84, 90, 100, 121, 130, 137, 139, 148; Christopher Smart, "Jubilate Agno" (NAEL 1.2486); Martin Luther, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"; Isaac Watts, "Our God, Our Help in Ages Past" (handouts)
Mar 20	Voices of Prophecy Read: Isaiah (esp. chs. 6-13; 25; 29; 36-42; 51-53; 60-65);
Mar 22	"Minor" Prophets: Personality, God, and Social Good Read: Amos, Hosea, and Micah; recommended: Scott Russell Sanders, "Amos and James," in Rosenberg, Communion, 323-41
Mar 24	Jonah's Big Fish Story Read: Jonah; H. Melville, Moby Dick, chs. 1-9; T. Eagleton, "J. L. Austin and the Book of Jonah," in R. Schwartz, The Book and the Text, ch. 9
	SPRING BREAK
Apr 3	'Novo Ordo Saeclorum' Read: The Gospel According to Mark; "Introduction to the New Testament," in LGB
Apr 5	The Problem of the Crucifixion Read: The Gospel According to Matthew; J&P 269-84 Journal Entry Due
Apr 7	Dreaming of a White Christmas Read: The Gospel According to Luke; J&P 205-220; W. Stevens, "Sunday Morning" (NAAL 2.1151); C. Cullen, "Heritage" (NAAL 2.1428)
Apr 10	Good News for the Gentiles Read: Acts of the Apostles; J&P 300-313
Apr 12	Word Into Flesh and Flesh Into Word Read: The Gospel According to John; J&P 82-93; Sylvia Plath, "Lady Lazarus" (NAAL 2.2545)
Apr 14	The Gospel Truth Read: H. Vaughan, "The Night" (NAEL 1.1412, OXAEL 1.1197); J&P 286-297; "John," in LGB
Apr 17	Looking Toward the End of Things Read: Daniel and Revelation
Apr 19	'Dies Irae': The Last Judgment Read: W. Shakespeare, Sonnet 146 (NAEL 1.822, OXAEL 1.937); J. Donne, "At the Round Earth's Imagined Corners" (NAEL 1.1115, OXAEL 1.1051); M. Arnold, "Dover Beach" (NAEL 2.1366, OXAEL 1379); W. Yeats, "Second Coming" (NAEL 2.1880, OXAEL 2.1700); G. Hopkins, "That Nature Is a Heraclitean Fire" (OXAEL 2.1473) Journal Entry Due
Apr 21	Making Theology Read: Romans; J. Baldwin, "Letter From a Region of My Mind" (NAAL 2.1880)
Apr 24	Shaping a Community By Letter: Paul Read: I Corinthians, Galatians, and Ephesians
Apr 26	'A Better Hope': Melchizedek? Read: Hebrews; I John; J&P 314-26
Apr 28	The Canon and Canonicity Read: Judith; Susanna; Jude
May 1	HOUR EXAM
May 3	The Prodigal Son: an Equipoise of Love Read: J&P 255-67
May 5	Jesus and the Samaritan Woman: Cultures in Collision Read: J&P
May 8	The Bible and Contemporary Writers Read: Rowland Sherrill, "The Bible and Twentieth-Century American Fiction," in G. Gunn, ed., The Bible and American Arts and Letters
May 10	The Bible and the Literary Reader Read: Robert Detweiler and Vernon K. Robbins, "From New Criticism to Poststructuralism: Twentieth-Century Hermeneutics" (SP 225-280)
May 12	Reaching Conclusions; Summing Up
May 16	TERM PAPER DUE