Samuel Syllabus - Rabbi Cohen

8/14/2019 Samuel Syllabus - Rabbi Cohen

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Bernard Revel Graduate School Yeshiva University

Dr. Mordechai Cohen (e-mail: [email protected])

BIB 7725

Biblical Narrative: Book of Samuel

DESCRIPTION: Literary analysis of biblical narrative: diction, characterization, dialogue, point

of view. Comparison with other methods: Midrash, thepeshattradition, source criticism. Brief

examples from Genesis and Ruth; comprehensive literary study of the book of Samuel.

GOALS: To become familiar with methodologies of modern biblical scholarship and learn to

apply them independently. An enhanced understanding ofTanakh with greater appreciation for

its literary forms.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: The assigned readings in the bibliography below (pp. 4-5) were selected tooffer students a manageable introduction to the subject of biblical narrative and literary analysisofTanakh, which have received a great deal of attention in recent scholarship. Mastery of these

studies will enable the student to read further scholarship in these areas critically.

REQUIREMENTS:

Preparation for class lectures (sources, studies); weekly quizzes

Periodic written assignments

In-class midterm exam

Paper presentation independent literary analysis

Take-home final exam

Students are responsible to bring a complete Tanakh (without English) and relevantsecondary material to each class meeting.

Syllabus

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION (pre-class preparation optional)The concept of literary study of Scripture. Comparison with traditional, critical scholarship.

Sources: I Samuel 1-2

Readings: Berlin, On The Use of Traditional Jewish Exegesis

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BRG: BIBLICAL NARRATIVE DR. MORDECHAI COHEN

ASSIGNMENT #1:1-2 pages, due Aug. 30, 2009 (submit on ANGEL)In your opinion, what is the literary function of the story of Elis sons, his interaction with them,

and the prophecy to Eli? How might these compare with the stories about Hannah and Samuel?

WEEK 2: THEORY; NEW CRITICISMBerlin,Poetics, 11-21

Rozik, ' '

Leibowitz, '" '

Cohen, Best of Poetry

WEEK 3: INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF SAMUELI Samuel 3-7 with commentaries (Kiel, Bar-Efrat, Alter)

Optional: Garsiel, Samuel, 33-75

ASSIGNMENT # 2: 3-4 pages, due Oct. 1, 2009 (grace period: Oct. 12, 2009)Analyze the following three texts that depict the inception of the monarchy:

. ,-; , -; 1

. ; , -2

. 3

Give a title to each of these three texts. Explain how they differ. E.g., what is the relationship between Saul and Samuel in each depiction? How is Sauls personality depicted? How is

Samuel depicted? What is the difference between the attitude toward the institution of monarchy

presented in each text?

WEEK 4: SOURCE CRITICISM AS LITERARY READINGI Samuel 8-12Breuer, ,; idem 11-22 ,

Hakham,

Kugel, On the Bible and Literary CriticismBerlin, On the Bible as Literature.

WEEK 5: CLOSE READING, TOTAL INTERPRETATION

I Samuel 13-17Alter, Biblical Narrative, 3-46; Optional: Weiss,Bible From Within, 1-46

WEEK 6: CHARACTER AND CHARACTERIZATIONI Samuel 18-24

Berlin,Poetics, 22-42

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WEEK 7: NARRATION, DIALOGUE, REPETITIONAlter,Biblical Narrative, 63-113; optional: Bar Efrat,Narrative Art, 211-218

MIDTERM EXAM (week 7, Nov. 4, 2009). Text of I & II SAMUEL

ASSIGNMENT # 3: 2 pages, due Nov. 8, 2009How does Berlins discussion illuminate I Samuel 8 (perceptual point of viewof narrator,

nation), 19 (interest vs. perceptual point of view), and 25 (different conceptual points of view)?

WEEK 8: POINT OF VIEWI Sam 25-II Sam 1

Berlin,Poetics, 43-82; optional: Alter,Biblical Narrative, 114-130

WEEK 9: APPLICATION IN RUTHRuth 1-4

Berlin,Poetics, 83-110; Cohen,Hesed

WEEK 10: LITERARY VS. CRITICAL SCHOLARSHIPAlter,Biblical Narrative, 131-154; Berlin,Poetics, 111-139

WEEK 11: PLOT AND STRUCTUREAmit,Biblical Narratives, 1-68 ; Bar-Efrat, Narrative Art, 93-140

WEEK 12: SPACE AND TIMEAmit,Biblical Narratives, 103-125; Bar-Efrat, Narrative Art, 141-196

WEEKS 13-15: CLASS PRESENTATIONS ON NEW TEXTS (IN II SAMUEL)The final three meetings will be devoted to student presentations (15-20 minutes), each followed

by class evaluation and critique. The purpose of these presentations is to integrate the analyticmethods you have learned during the semester and apply them to a specific new narrative text, to

be chosen in consultation with the professor. On the basis of the presentation and responses, youwill write a research paper that incorporates your views with the relevant scholarship:

commentaries of Kiel, Bar-Efrat, Alter, as well as the literary scholarship we have studied over

the semester, including Amit and Bar-Efrat readings.

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Choosing texts for analysis: By Nov. 1 (first come, first serve, in person or by e-mail), choose

two possible texts for your presentation/paper (1st choice, 2nd choice). A chapter or other

literary unit, preferably from II Samuel (but other narratives will be considered) with a paragraph

indicating the direction of your analysis. On the basis of these choices I will set up a schedule ofpresentations (hopefully to cover a good part of II Samuel) for the final three class meetings.

FINAL EXAM (take-home)

The final exam (8-10 pages) will focus on the techniques of literary analysis studied over the

semester and their application to biblical narrative. It is to be submitted (on ANGEL) by January15, 2010, together with an edited version of the paper.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

a. Articles and book chapters (on e-res):

1. Berlin, Adele. On the Bible as Literature. Prooftexts 2 (1982): 323-327.

2. -----. On The Use of Traditional Jewish Exegesis in the Modern Literary Study of the

Bible. In Tehillah le-Mosheh: Biblical and Judaic Studies in Honor of MosheGreenberg, ed. M. Cogan, B. Eichler, J. Tigay. Winona Lake, IN 1997. Pp. 173-183.

3. Breuer, Mordechai. .. Jerusalem 1986. Pp. 11-22

4. ,' ' .----- Megadim 2 (5747/1986): 9-22.

5. Cohen, Mordechai. The Best of Poetry: Literary Approaches to the Bible in the

SpanishPeshatTradition. The Torah U-Madda Journal6 (1995/6): 15-57.

6. -----. Hesed: Divine or Human? The Syntactic Ambiguity of Ruth 2:20, HazonNahum: Essays in Honor of Dr. Norman Lamm, ed. Y. Elman, J. Gurock. New York1997. Pp. 11-38.

7. Hakham, Amos. ' , '. Megadim 3 (5747/1987):

67-71.

8. Kugel, James. On the Bible and Literary Criticism.Prooftexts 1 (1981): 217-236.

9. Leibowitz, Nechama. '" '. In: ":

.. Jerusalem 1995. Pp. 1-13

10. Rozik, Sarah. ' '. Beit Mikra 21 (1976):71-78.

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b. Booksrequired. On Reserve at the Library; some available on Amazon.

11. Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. New York 1981.

12. -----. The David Story. New York 1999.

13. Amit, Yairah. Reading Biblical Narratives. Minneapolis 2001.

14. Bar-Efrat, Shimon. Narrative Art in the Bible. Sheffield 2000.

15. -----. 1 and 2 Samuel: With Introduction and Commentary [in Hebrew], Miqra le-Yisrael

Series. Tel Aviv 1996.

16. Berlin, Adele. Poetics and The Interpretation of Biblical Narrative. Winona Lake, IN

1994.

17. Kiel, Yehuda. .. Jerusalem 1981 :

c. SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS; on reserve at library

18. Alter, Robert and Frank Kermode. The Literary Guide to the Bible. Cambridge, MA

1987.

19. Garsiel, Moshe. The First Book of Samuel: A Literary Study of Comparative Structures,

Analogies and Parallels. Jerusalem 1990.

20. Polak, Frank. .. Jerusalem 19992

21. Sternberg, Meir. The Poetics of Biblical Narrative. Bloomington, IN 1985.

22. Weiss, Meir. The Bible From Within: The Method of Total Interpretation. Jerusalem

1984.

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Samuel Syllabus - Rabbi Cohen