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Why (Western) Literature?
• What Is Literature• “Literature is the creation of another world, a world that
we can only see through (reading, watching or listening to) literature (fiction, film or music) .”
“Applied Literature”
• Literature is LANGUAGE (e.g., forbidden fruit)• Literature is CULTURE (historical/cultural
background, e.g., sabbatical leave)• Literature is LIFE (interacting with the text. e.g.,
love is ___.)• “. . .language instruction toward the student's
acquiring of a deeper understanding of the historical, political, and cultural uses of the target language.”
What do we mean by “Western”?
• “Western” – Near Eastern• Western – The Bible &
Greek and Roman Mythology
What do people say about…
• English has two book; the Bible and Shakespeare. England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England. (Victor Hugo)
• Education is useless with the Bible. (Noah Webster)
What Is Education?
• TRUTHThen you will know the truth and the truth
will set you free. (John 8:82)
• MORALITY—Do to others whatever you would like them to
do to you. (Matthew 7:12)
• AESTHETICSGod has made everything beautiful
in its own time.
Why the Bible?
• Viewed as a sacred text that has influenced all of Western culture
• A collection of books that contain great literature
• Translations of the Bible helping developing the English language
What is the Bible?
• A Greek word, ton biblion, “the scroll” or “the book”
• Byblos, an ancient city, the official supplier of paper products, synonymous with the the word “book” or “scroll” (e.g., Kleenex)
• The Bible or Biblia (the Greek), “the scrolls” or “the books”, a collection
of works by a variety of authors
Who wrote the Bible?
• The Bible includes legal texts, history, poetry, philosophy, music, personal correspondence, and prophecies
• The authors include shepherds, kings, farmers, priests, poets, scribes, prophets and fishermen
Who did the Bible come from?
• The Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament): the Pentateuch, History, the Prophets, Poetry and Wisdom Literature
• The Apocrypha (Hidden Books)• The New Testament: History, Letters,
Apocalypse
What’s in the Bible?
• Narratives – Jonah in the fish• Novellas (Short-story forms) – Joseph’s robes• A songbook – Psalm 23• Legal codes – Leviticus• National epics/historical narratives – King David• Visions/prophecies• The Gospels – the life and teaching of Jesus• Letters – Paul’s epistles (1 Cor. 13)