Appreciating PoetryThe uniqueness of the genre

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1A Why use Poetry in any culture?

1B It speaks also to the emotive side of life, the whole person (not just intellect, but will, and emotions). IF

2B It captures the heart & mind with the turn of a phrase or thought in a way that prose can not. AE Housman

3B A way to say something without saying it directly or prosaically. SOS 4-5

4B Summary: It is an attractive way to express profound truth.

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2A Interpreting biblical poetry

1B The place of rhythm & meter

1C The lines only rarely follow a consistent rhythm of syllables.

2C They only rarely rhyme in similar sounds, but always “rhyme” in terms of meaning.

3C Tends to be short, using direct objects, definite article six times less than prose.

4C These characteristics are why the text is generally formatted differently in a study Bible, though there is a continuum from prose to poetic and the distinction in every example is not absolute!

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structure

2B The importance of structure:

1C Parallelism 1D Synonymous: The first line is restated in the second. 2D Antithetic: The first line is contrasted in the second. 3D Constructive: The first line is developed in the second. 4D Chiastic: The thought order is inverted.

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Synonymous

• Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise

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Synonymous

• Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise

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Synonymous

• Psalm 2:3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters.

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Synonymous

• Psalm 2:3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters.

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Antithetic

• Psalm 1:6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

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Antithetic

• Psalm 1:6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

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Antithetic

• Psalm 37:9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

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Antithetic

• Psalm 37:9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

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Constructive

• Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

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Constructive

• Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

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Chiastic

Psalm 2:10

Therefore, you kings, be wise;

be warned, you rulers of the earth.

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Chiastic

Psalm 2:10

Therefore, you kings, be wise;

be warned, you rulers of the earth.

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acrostics2C Acrostic

1D In the Bible: Each line of poetry begins with the next letter of the alphabet.

2D Meaning: totality, “As we have exhausted the alphabet so we have exhausted the subject”

3D Examples:1E 119:2E Proverbs 31:3E Lamentations 1, 2 & 3:

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Figurative meaning3B Discussion about figurative meaning.

1C The purpose for figures of speech is to be visual and affective.

2C It is, almost always, not literal

3C This does NOT imply that it is somehow less true or accurate.

4C Is Genesis 3:15 poetic?1D crush heel =2D crush head = 3D snake =

painful, non-fatalpainful, fatalSupernatural enemy

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examples

5C Examples

1D Parallel Exodus 14-15

2D Parallel Judges 4-5

3D Parallel Joshua 10 and sun standing still