Honors English III Biblical Allusions

Because Biblical allusions abound in literature, it is important to have a working knowledge of the major stories in the Bible, no matter what one’s faith. Furthermore, understanding allusions of all kinds (Biblical, mythical, Shakespearean), should help improve the chances for a solid score on the AP exam, where it will expected that you call a Christ image a Christ image.

Though some of you may know Christ as a religious figure, begin here to imagine him as one of the greatest literary characters ever created. He has elements of a king’s life and duty, faces great intellectual antagonists (The Pharisees), goes against the preconceptions of his day (eats with prostitutes and tax collectors), embodies the most interesting paradox of being half mortal, half deity, and commits the ultimate sacrifice for a greater good. What a character!

Details:

• There are several good online Bibles. Here's the most academic version: http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/article/book/obso-9780195288803?_hi=2&_pos=1 Here's another one: https://www.biblegateway.com/ This site is the King James version: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ If you have a family Bible, that should be fine. Gideon Bibles from Hotel rooms are fine, too. You can always find a Bible at the local library, too. This academic Bible may be in your local library: https://www.amazon.com/New-Oxford-Annotated-Bible-Apocrypha/dp/0195289609

• Because it is the language most often used in Western literature’s Biblical allusions, we will often refer to the King James version of the Bible. You can also use a Revised Standard Version (RSV), which is a very close translation to James tradition.

• If the meaning of the passage confuses you, you may find it helpful to read a more modern translation (all found at the same website in the pull-down menu) and then learn the King James version.

• In spring term, each of you will be responsible for one of the lessons below. You will be required to research where that allusion occurs in two pieces of American literature, and explain in a blog post this connection; we'll also give you some class time to present this idea. Everyone will chose one of these stories by making a random selection from a hat. We will explain it in more detail during the opening weeks of the spring trimester. This process will prepare you for any Biblical allusion on the AP Exam and help use make deeper connections with our three centuries of studying American literature.

The list of frequently alluded to lessons in the Bible:

1. “The Creation” Genesis; Chap. 1. Motifs: God’s power w/water, chaos/order, number seven.

2. “The Garden Test” Genesis; Chap. 2-3 Motifs: Test, garden, serpent, dust, tree, loss of innocence, toil.

3. “The Flood” Genesis; Chap. 6-9 Motifs: Test, God’s power, water, number 40, mountain, heart, chaos/order, duty of prophet, raven, dove and olive leaf, covenant.

4. “Test of Abraham” Genesis: Chap. 22 Motifs: test, Mountain, fear of God, sacrifice (blood), prophet, covenant.

5. “Ten Command.” Exodus: Chap. 20 Motifs: test, Mountain, Moses, duty of prophet & archetypal judge figure (he breaks up a

fight between an Egyptian and Israelite in his younger days), covenant.

6. “David & Goliath” I Samuel: Chap. 17 Motifs: test, cunning (similar to Jacob’s), Bethlehem, Philistine.

7. “Nativity Story” Luke: Chap. 2 Motifs: Bethlehem/David, angel = messenger, first born, shepherd.

8. “John The Baptist” Luke: Chap. 3 Motifs: water, dove, prophet, minor character to introduce major.

9. “Prophet Motifs” Mark: Chap. 6 Motifs: no prophet accepted @ home, wilderness, John’s head, fish, number 12, walks on

water—a mythological sequence at this point in the story!

10. “Sermon/Mount” Matt: Chap. 5-7 Motifs: Mountain, heart, prophet.

11. “Last Supper” Mark: Chap. 14 Motifs: meal, blood, covenant, shepherd, prophet, number 12.

12. “Gethsemane” Mark: Chap. 14 Motifs: test, garden, Mountain, Judas, betrayal kiss,

13. “Peter’s Denial” Mark: Chap. 14 Motifs: betrayal, number 3, Jesus’ blasphemy (verses 61-65) is juxtaposed with

Peter’s denial.

14. “Crucifixion” Mark: Chap. 15 Motifs: paradox half man/half deity, number 3, test.

15. “Resurrection” John: Chap. 20, 21 Motifs: paradox half man/half deity, number 3, test.

Passages To Explore if You Want More:

The Mark of Cain Genesis Chapter 6

The Tower of Babel Genesis Chapter 11: 1-9

Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis Chapter 18

Lot and his Wife Genesis Chapter 19

Esau and Jacob Genesis Chapters

The Story of Joseph Genesis Chapters 37-50

Lazarus John Chapter 11: 1-12:11

30 pieces of silver Matthew Chapter 26, 27

Mark Chapter 14

Luke Chapter 22

John Chapter 13, 18

Prodigal Son (two sons motif) Luke Chapter 15

Apocalypse, Armageddon Revelations

The suffering of Job Job

I spoke like a child, etc. I Corinthians Chapter 13

Good Samaritan Luke

The Holy Spirit Acts Chapter 1-2

The Lord is my Shepherd Psalm 23

Light and Salvation Psalm 27