Genesis Analysis
World Literature
Mr. Brennan
Do-Now
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Archetypes in Myth
Using your
ARCHETYPE WORKSHEET
reference our previous creation stories and
see how many archetypes you identify within each story
AGENDA
Learning
Objective
SWBAT gain a deeper understanding of Judeo-Christian culture
by analyzing the form and function of the Jewish Torah and
Christian Bible’s Book of Genesis.
SWBAT explain the complex relationship between religion and
society, and how myth portrays moral duality that promotes a
collective social ethical behavior.
1.
Writing Prompts: Finished?
2.
Discussion/Analysis: The Book of Genesis
3.
Mini-Lecture: David Émile Durkheim
4.
Class Reading: The Elementary Forms of Religious Life
(1912)
Homework
Reminders
Finish Reading The Elementary Forms of Religious Life
Complete Reading Questions
Cain and Abel,
The Great Flood, and
Noah’s Arc
Babel and the
Beginning of
Civilization
7. When Adam and Eve’s eyes are “opened,” they first notice that the other is naked.
Genesis
Comprehension
Questions
8. To whom do the words “us,” “our,” and “them” refer in the Gen. 1:26 and 3:22?
Why are sexual differences their first realization? Why is Adam “afraid” to be naked?
does Cain
to Abel? What
legacyduring
of Cain?the
Is Cain
What9.areWhatGod’s
maindocreations
andis Cain’s
actions
firstalonedayresponsible?
of creation?
10. What is Cain’s punishment? Does Cain's punishment fit his crime?
11. Whatthat
doeswith
the story
Cain and Abel
tell usforth
aboutday.
violence--in
the world? o
Compare
the ofcreations
of the
Whatthearefamily,
theinimplications
12. Why does God decide to destroy man from the earth? How does he accomplish this?
3. Why
Godgemstones
spare Noah? Wmentioned
hat role does N
oah serve
the history
mankind? (2:11-1
Why 1are
golddoesand
when
theinrivers
areordescribed
14. Referencing Gen. 1:26 and 1:28, what does God say humankind's relationship to the rest of
What arecreation
the implications
twoat Gstories
theGcreation
of man an
should be? Thenoflook
en. 9:1-7.that
Afterdescribe
the Flood, have
od's views changed?
15. Why did Noah curse Canaan? What are the implications of this?
What16.role
does
the serpent
playhasinmankind
man’sachieved?
banishment?
What
doestothe
In the
beginning
of Gen 11, what
How does
God react
this serpen
revelation? Why does he act this way? What is the result of his actions?
Why 1would
tree[Abraham]?
of knowledge,
of knowing
good and evil, resu
7. What eating
does Godfrom
say tothe
Abram
How was this
foreshadowed?
What are the implications of this?
ulfillment of God’s threat of death, as stated in Genesis 2:17? How have they
Lineage of Abraham
Judaism and Christianity (along with Islam) are
considered Abrahamic religions,
in that they trace their common
origin to Abraham.
Theogony of Genesis
GOD
Adam
Cain
Eve: the day or period Seth
of
Abel
Eve
seven generations
time immediately before
an event or occasion
Shem
eight generations
Abraham
Noah
Ham
Japheth
Canaan & Cush & Put & Mizraim
Nimrod (Babel)
Casluhim
Hammurabi: from Akkadian “Ammurāpi,”
meaning "the kinsman is a healer”
Israelites <----------------------- RIVALS -----------------------------------> Philistines
Portrayals of Genesis
•
Metaphysical (Origin of Cosmos):
•
Religious (Poly- Mono- theistic):
•
Social/Political (Hierarchy of Power): Unchallenged Supreme Ruler
•
Social/Political (Patri- Matri- archy):
•
Axis mundi (World Axis): Babel / Babylon
•
Anthropological (Origin of Man):
•
Environmental (Explanation of Natural):
Void and Omnipotent God
Monotheistic
Patriarchy
Man and Woman created by God, and/or
(Woman created from Adam by God)
Earth is a creation of God
Hero/Journey, Light/Dark, Virgin
(Psyche/Archetypes): Birth, the tree, the Father, the Serpent,
Haven/WIld, Savior, etc.
•
Psychological
•
Morality (Values/Good v. Evil/Purpose of Man): Obey God’s will, seek
Rule over natural world;
redemption through faith
Archetypes of Genesis
Archetype
light/darkness
Metaphorical Meaning
Order from Chaos
Adam/Eve
interaction of opposing forces (dualities) that
are the building blocks of everything
self-contained, pure, independent,
uncorrupted and unpartnered
Virgin Birth
Garden of Eden
the tree (or fruit)
innocents of childhood; the womb
experience into adulthood
(once we leave we can never return)
the
trickster/serpent
The serpent, seen duality of male/female;
we shed our skin (grow) through the
temptation of experience
Noah is seen as the mankind’s savior/protector
Noah
Significance of Genesis
•
Possibly derived from Mesopotamian myth (i.e. Enuma Elish)
•
Conflict and Violence does NOT drive process of
creation
•
Monotheistic—God is the unchallenged Creator
•
Supports Unchallenged Ruler
•
Removes ambiguity, allowing for social unification (i.e. Roman Empire)
•
Beginnings of religious intolerance
•
Original Sin and Continuous Search for Redemption
•
God removed from Nature