Syllabus

TEXTS: The Bible: Designed to be Read as Living Literature (King James Version), arranged and edited by Ernest Sutherland Bates and Lodowick Allison, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, 1993.

English 360: Supplemental Materials, selected by Robert Noreen, CSUN: Faculty Press, 1996.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

English 360 is a study of the classic King James Version of the Bible, with consideration of the epic stories of Genesis and the Fall; the evolving history of the Hebrew Nation; the prophetic and dramatic literature as well as the lyric poetry, short stories and tales of the Old Testament; and the Gospels, Acts and Revelation of the New Testament. Emphasis will be on the literary qualities of the Bible rather than on its religious or ethical qualities. The Bible will also be studied as a literary source from which writers have drawn for centuries. Concurrently with their study of biblical lore, students will examine selected short stories and poems in English literature that draw heavily upon biblical references. The course is designed for students who have a general interest in the literary qualities of the Bible, as well as for English majors who wish to become more adept at recognizing biblical allusions.

EVALUATION:

The course grade will be based on three exams, occasional quizzes, short written assignments, including a report to be given orally on the Bible's influence on a particular work of art or literature. Attendance is expected. Exams will be based on material covered in class; missing more than two classes may adversely affect your grade.

Extra credit may be earned through a mini-research paper. During class discussion, questions of fact, relationship or interpretation may come up for which no one has an adequate answer. Students are free to submit a well-written response to the question within one week. Responses should be to 1 page typed. Depending upon the quality and nature of the research, up to one point may be added to your final course point total.

Grading scale: A=92-100; B=84-91; C=74-83; D=66-73. Plus-and-minus grading will apply for final grade. Exams should be taken on the date indicated. Incompletes are reluctantly given, and only when a small portion of the work for the course remains.

SCHEDULE

August 27

Introduction: Discussion of course content; brief survey of the history of the Bible as a book; Introductory background quiz

Literature Selections: Thomas Traherne, "On the Bible"; James Russell Lowell, "God is not Dumb"; Robinson Jeffers, "The Great Explosion"

August 29

Bible Reading Assignment: The Creation of the World (pp. 4-6); The Second Account of Creation (6-7); The Fall of Man (7-10); Cain and Abel (10-11)
Literature Selections: Anne Winters, "The First Verse"; Natan Zach, "What God First Said"; Anthony Hecht, "Naming the Animals"; John Keats, "Sharing Eve's Apple"; Christina Rossetti, "Eve"; W.B. Yeats, "Adam's Curse"; Jorge Luis Borges, "Adam Cast Forth"; Judith Wright, "Eve to her Daughters"

September 3

Bible Reading Assignment: The Flood (11-16); The Tower of Babel (17);

Literature Selections: Chris Wallace-Crabbe, "Noah"; Wislawa Szymborska, "In the Tower of Babel"

September 5

Bible Reading Assignment: Abraham and Sarah (17-31)

Literature Selections: Alicia Ostriker, "The Story of Abraham"; Emily Dickinson, "Abraham to Kill Him"

September 10

Bible Reading Assignment: Isaac and Rebekah (32-36); Jacob and Esau (36-41); Jacob and Rachel (41-57)

Literature Selections: Daryl Hine, "The Destruction of Sodom"; John Greenleaf Whittier, "The Cities of the Plain"; Aharon Amir, "Esau's Letter"; Francis Quarles, "On Jacob's Purchase"; Denise Levertov, "The Jacob's Ladder"; Emily Dickinson, "A Little East of Jordan"

September 12

Bible Reading Assignment: Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors (57-59); Judah and Tamar (59-61); Joseph in Egypt (61-79)

September 17

Bible Reading Assignment: Exodus Narratives: The Escape from Egypt (82-103)

Literature Selection: Robert Frost, "Sitting by a Bush in Broad Daylight"

September 19

Bible Reading Assignment: The Journey to Sinai (103-108); The Giving of the Law (108-110); The Calf of Gold (111-115)

Literature Selections: Harvey Shapiro, "Exodus"; George Herbert, "Aaron"

September 24

Bible Reading Assignment: Leviticus: The Holiness Code (118-120); Book of Numbers: Wanderings in the Wilderness (122-137); The Story of Balaam (137-144); The War with the Midianites (144-146)

Literature Selections: D.H. Lawrence, "Tabernacle"; George Herbert, "The Bunch of Grapes"; Francis Quarles, "On Balaam's Ass"

September 26

Bible Reading Assignment: Deuteronomy: The Death of Moses (148-157)

Literature Selections: Rainer Marie Rilke, "The Death of Moses"; Emily Dickinson, "It Always Felt to Me--A Wrong"

October 1 TEST 1

October 3

Bible Reading Assignment: Joshua: The Destruction of Jericho (160-165); The Destruction of Ai (165-169); The Craft of the Gibeonites (169-171); The Long Day's Battle (171-173)

Literature Selection: X.J. Kennedy, "Joshua"

October 8

Bible Reading Assignment: The Book of Judges: The Story of Ehud (176-178); The Story and Song of Deborah (178-183); The Story of Gideon (183-191); The Story of Abimelech (191-195); The Story of Jephthah's Daughter (195-196); The Story of Samson (196-204); The Benjamite War (205-211)

Literature Selections: Janet Heller, "Devorah"; John Milton, from Samson Agonistes; Richard Crashaw, "Samson to his Delilah"

October 10

Bible Reading Assignment: First Book of Samuel: The Birth of Samuel (214-216); Hannah's Thanksgiving (216-217); The Call of Samuel (217-219); The Loss of the Ark (219-221); The Anointing of Saul (221-226); Beginning of Saul's Reign (227-236); David and Goliath (237-240); Friendship of David and Jonathan (240-246)

Literature Selection: Francis Quarles, "On Saul and David"; Emily Dickinson, "I took my Power in my Hand"; Francis Quarles, "David's Epitaph on Jonathan"

October 15

Bible Reading Assignment: The Flight of David (246-258); The Witch of Endor (259- 260); The Death of Saul (261-262); Second Book of Samuel: The Lament of David (264- 266); The Triumph of David (266-271); David Takes Jerusalem (271-274); David and Bathsheba (274-278); The Rebellion of Absalom (278-292)
Literature Selections: Anna Akhmatova, "Michal"; Charles Resnikoff, "David"; John Dryden, from Absalom and Achitophel

October 17

Bible Reading Assignment: The First Book of Kings: The Death of David (294-298); The Reign of Solomon (298-309); The Division of the Kingdom (309-310); Elijah the Prophet (311-319); The Second Book of Kings: The Miracles of Elisha (322-334); The Conspiracy of Jehu (334-337); The Death of Elisha (337-338); The Fall of Israel (338-339); The Reign of Hezekiah (340-345); The Reforms of Josiah (345-349); The Fall of Judah (349-351)
Literature Selections: Robert Frost, "Provide, Provide"; George Herbert, "Sion"; William Butler Yeats, "Solomon and the Witch"; "Solomon to Sheba"; John Keble, "Hezekiah's Display"

October 22

Bible Reading Assignment: The Book of Nehemiah: The Rebuilding of the Walls (354- 356); The Birth of Judaism (356-358); Reforms in Judah (358-359); The First Book of the Maccabees: The Greek Tyranny (362-365); The Rebellion of the Maccabees (366- 370)

October 24 Test 2

October 29

Bible Reading Assignment: Prophetical Books: Amos; Hosea; Micah (374-398); Isaiah (399-434); Zephaniah; Nahum; Habakkuk (436-450)
Literature Selections: Geroge Meredith, "Lucifer in Starlight"; Siegfried Sassoon, "Babylon"; Thomas Hardy, "A Dream Question";

October 31

Bible Reading Assignment: Jeremiah; Lamentations (452-506); Ezekiel; Rhapsodies of the Unknown Prophet (508-559)
Literature Selections: Gerard Manley Hopkins, "Thou art Indeed Just, Lord"; Wilfred Owen, "The End"

November 5

Bible Reading Assignment: Poetry, Drama, Fiction, Philosophy: Psalms; Proverbs (584- 683
Literature Selections: Richard Crashaw, "Psalm 23"; Byron, "By the Rivers of Babylon"; David Curzon, "Proverbs 6:6"; Samuel Johnson, "Paraphrase"

November 7

Bible Reading Assignment: Book of Job: A Philosophical Drama: (686- )

November 12

Bible Reading Assignment: Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs (743-774)
Literature Selections: J.P. White, "In Ecclesiastes...";Anne Bradstreet, "The Vanity of All Worldy Things"

November 14

Bible Reading Assignment: Ruth; Jonah; Daniel; Esther (776-829); Selected Passages from Esdras, Judith, Susanna and the Elders, Tobit, Ecclesiasticus, Wisdom of Solomon
Literature Selections: Emily Dickinson, "Belshazzar had a Letter"; Hart Crane, "After Jonah"; Randall Jarrell, "Jonah"

November 19

Bible Reading Assignment: The New Testament, Gospel According to Mark: A Biography of Jesus of Nazareth: The Coming of Christ (894- ); Ministry in Galilee (895-900); Miracles of Christ (900-914); Ministry in Judaea (914-922); Passion and Resurrection (922-930); Gospels According to Matthew and Luke Selections (931, 969)
Literature Selection: T.S. Eliot, "The Coming of the Magi"

November 21

Bible Reading Assignment: Gospel According to John (1003): The Word Made Flesh (1004-1006); The Ministry of Christ (1006-1037); The Passion and Resurrection (1037-1055)

November 26

Bible Reading Assignment: The Acts of the Apostles: The History of the Early Church (1057); The Ascension, Pentecost (1058-1063); The Ministry of Peter, John, Philip (1063-74); The Conversion of Saul (1074-1076); The Spread of the Gospel (1076-1081); Paul's Missionary Journeys (1082--1116); Selected Letters (1117-1218)

December 3

Bible Reading Assignment: Revelation of Jesus Christ (1219); Prologue (1220); 1. The Book Sealed with Seven Seals (1225); 2. The Opening of the Seals (1227); 3. The Seven Trumpets (1230); 4. The Woman Clothed with the Sun (1234); 5. The Seven Vials (1239); 6. The Last Judgment (1244); 7. The New Jerusalem (1247); Epilogue (1249 )

December 5

REVIEW DAY

December 10

1500-1700 FINAL EXAMINATION