Bible as Literature I English 2413 Fall 2007

The Bible as Literature I

English 2413-0377

Fall 2007

MWF 9:00-10:00 a.m. NB 3010

Dr. John Hodgson	NB 2033	581-2934	johnh@cameron.edu
Office Hours 10-12 Tuesday and Thursday and by appointment

Schedule
August
September
October
November
December
Final Exam

Course Description

Bible as Literature I is an exploration of the major types of literature present in the Old Testament—narrative history, legal writing, poetry, and wisdom writings. Students will study passages of books from the Torah, Nebim, and Kethubim. The first third of the course will introduce students to basics of literary analysis: plot, character, theme, and figurative language. The second third will emphasize more complex concepts such as voice and rhetorical perspective. The final third will focus on those books, particularly Job, Ecclesiastes and the Psalms, that have significantly impacted the themes and structure of literature in English.

Required Texts

The Bible. Authorized King James Version with Apocrypha. Oxford World’s Classics Series. New York: Oxford UP, 1997.

Ryken, Leland. How to Read the Bible as Literature and Get More Out of It. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984.

Zondervan Compact Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.

Course Requirements

Regular and on time class attendance; completion of all tests, papers, and presentation; participation in class discussions and completion of daily assignments.

Grading

Class Participation	20%
3 tests @20% each	60%
Paper	20%

90-100% = A, 80-89.99% = B, 70-79.99% = C, 60-69.99% = D, <60% = F

Academic Honesty

On page 3 of his book Doing Honest Work in College, Charles Lipson articulates three "bedrock principles" of academic honesty:

When you say you did the work yourself, you actually did it;
When you rely on someone else's work, you cite it. When you use their words, you quote them openly and accurately, and you cite them, too;
When you present research materials, you present them fairly and truthfully.

I expect each student to adhere to each of these principles in his/her writing and presentations. If you have any doubts about how to give credit where credit is due, ASK.

Accommodation

It is the policy of Cameron University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law. Students with disabilities who need classroom accommodations must make their requests by contacting the Office of Student Development at (580) 581-2209, North Shepler Room 314.

Other

Turn off beepers, cell phones, and other personal noisemakers before entering the class.

Tentative Schedule

This schedule is subject to change with appropriate notice. Any changes will be announced in class only.

Ryken = How to Read the Bible as Literature and Get More Out of It

KJV= King James Version (numbers refer to Chapters, not pages)

Date	Topic	Readings/Assignments
August
M 20	Course Introduction: Syllabus, Policies
W 22	The Bible in English	Lecture/Handouts
F 24	The Bible in English cont'd	Lecture/Handouts
M 27	Reading the Bible as a Literary Text; The Literary Unity of the Bible	Ryken 9-32, 177-197
W 29	Genesis: Pre-history	Ryken 33-47 KJV Genesis Chapters 1-11
F 31	Genesis: Abraham and Sarah	Ryken 47-59 KJV Genesis Chapters 12-25
September
M 3	Labor Day	No Classes
W 5	Genesis: Isaac and Jacob	Ryken 59-73 KJV Genesis Chapters 26-37
F 7	Genesis: Joseph and the coat of many colors	Ryken 75-86 KJV Genesis Chapters 37-50
M 10	Exodus: Deliverance	KJV Exodus Chapters 1-18
W 12	Exodus 1-18 continued
F 14	Exodus: The Wilderness	KJV Exodus Chapters 19-40
M 17	Exodus 19-40 continued
W 19	Leviticus: selections	KJV Lev. 1, 5, 8-12
F 21	Leviticus: selections	KJV Lev. 19-20, 26-27
M 24	Review for first exam
W 26	Exam #1
F 28	Convocation	Morning classes do not meet
October
M 1	Historical Books	Ryken 177-97 Lecture
W 3	Joshua--Conquest	KJV Joshua 1-12
F 5	Joshua--Occupation	KJV Joshua 13-21
M 8	Joshua--Conclusion	KJV Joshua 22-24
W 10	Judges	KJV Judges 1-9
F 12	Judges continued	KJV Judges 10-21
M 15	Ruth	KJV Ruth 1-4
W 17	1 Samuel	KJV 1 Sam. 1-12
F 19	Fall Break
M 22	1 Samuel	KJV 1 Sam. 13-23
W 24	1 Samuel	KJV 1 Sam. 24-31
F 26	2 Samuel	KJV 2 Sam. 1-9
M 29	2 Samuel	KJV 2 Sam. 10-20
W 31	2 Samuel	KJV 2 Sam. 21-24
November
F 2	1 Kings	KJV 1 Kings 1-11
M 5	1 Kings	KJV 1 Kings 12-22
W 7	2 Kings	KJV 2 Kings 1-13:20
F 9	Exam #2
M 12	Job	Ryken 159-163 KJV Job 1-14
W 14	Job	KJV Job 15-31
F 16	Statehood Day (whatever the heck that is)	No classes
M 19	Job	KJV Job 32-42
W 21	Psalms (Yes, we have class today--see Friday 16 November, above)	Ryken 87-108 Selections TBA
F 23	Thanksgiving Holiday	No classes
M 26	Psalms	Ryken 109-120 Selections TBA Paper due
W 28	Proverbs	Ryken 121-129 KJV Pro. 1-9
F 30	Proverbs	KJV Pro. 10-24
December
M 3	Proverbs	KJV Pro. 25-31
W 5	Ecclesiastes	KJV Ecc. 1-6
F 7	Ecclesiastes	KJV Ecc. 7-12
M 10	Review for Final Exam
Thursday 13	Final Exam 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.