The Bible as Literature
Contact information:
Mary Adams, Instructor
Email: madams@email.wcu.edu
Office phone: x3929 (but email works better)
Office is 418
Meets
M-F 10:15-12:15 McKee 113
Office hour: right before or right after class (check to make sure)
Course Objectives
Students will learn these things:
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Read, discuss, and understand the bible from a non-sectarian literary perspective
Identify, analyze, and interpret the literary devices used
Identify, analyze, and interpret major themes in specific books of the Bible
Recognize the Bible's rich contribution to other major literary works and integrate this
knowledge with that for other course work in the humanities
understand important historical and cultural influences on the Bible
Produce thoughtful written work demonstrating the abilities learned in 1-5 above
Class Policies and Assumptions
For the purposes of this course, we will discuss the bible as a human document. This means we will
discuss different theories of authorship and chronology, investigate different translations, and discuss
the cultural context of its composition. We will read and discuss some biblical and archeological
scholarship. You do not have to agree with this scholarship, but you will be responsible for reading it.
Even devout Christians differ about how to interpret the Bible. I expect disagreement as long as it is
respectful, but I will not tolerate rudeness or disrespect to others—or to me!
You should understand these assumptions:
God doesn't write literature. People do. To consider the bible as literature is to assume human
authorship that reflects human purposes. In this class, we cannot consider the role of "divine
inspiration" or "higher truth" in these texts. When we look at a work of literature, we consider not just
aspects of style and theme, but authorial intent, historical context, and the ways that translation,
transcription (copying), and transmission (passing down) may alter meaning.
This course is non-sectarian, open to people of any religion or no religion. That means we will
concentrate on discussing the bible not as a work of faith, the way you might discuss it in church or
Sunday school, but as a work of literature, which is constructed around conflict and subject to a range of
interpretations. We will consider the cultural context in which the literature was created and will try to
understand what it meant for the people who wrote it. Some Christians read the Hebrew Bible or "Old
Testament" only in relation to the New Testament, ignoring its meaning for people living at the time. But
in this class, we will discuss forces that influenced the writing of books in the Hebrew Bible without
reference to the New Testament. Likewise, when we look at the New Testament, we will look at it as a
response both to the Hebrew Bible and to the culture of the Roman Empire.
We will discuss a wide range of modern scholarship by people, some of them ministers, priests, and
rabbis, who often question traditional assumptions about the bible. You will be responsible for
understanding this scholarship even if you disagree with it. Here are some of the controversial issues
we'll discuss:
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Speculations about the bible's authorship. While many traditional Christians believe the bible to
be divinely inspired, our textbook reflects a large community of recognized scholars who believe
it to be the work of many writers and editors who freely wrote, assembled, edited, and revised
parts of the bible for their own reasons.
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Speculations about chronology. Most of the scholarship we will examine abandons traditional
beliefs about when bible texts were composed. It also rejects notions that Genesis is a literal
account of the creation. Instead, this scholarship assumes that the ability to write arose quite
late in human history, and that works like Genesis were poetic speculations about the origins of
the world.
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Research regarding cultural influences. The bible was composed in the ancient near east, by
nomadic peoples influenced by other cultures such as the Assyrians, the Persians, the Egyptians,
the Sumerians, and, later, the Greeks and Romans. Besides reading books in the bible, we will
also read works that may have influenced their composition or been influenced by them.
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The nature of language. The bible was written in Hebrew and Greek. Every translation into
English has the potential to change the meaning of the text. Many of us grew up with the King
James version, which was "authorized" by James I of England. We will be reading a more
modern translation which uses new findings to correct errors in the King James version. We will
frequently compare translations with reference to the original Hebrew and Greek, to see how
the different wording affects our understanding of the text.
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Points of view. Scholars of literature consider each work using many critical frameworks.
o Feminist criticism looks at such issues as the how women are represented in texts, how
texts affect them, and how they read and write them.
o Textual criticism looks at how factors like authorship, composition, and chronology may
be established.
o Marxist criticism looks at issue of class and power.
o Historical criticism looks at how factors like culture and context influence not only the
creation but also the transmission of a message.
o Stylistic criticism looks at how structure, metaphor, and other literary features shape a
message.
o Rhetorical criticism treats all texts as arguments with immediate and long-term goals.
Attendance and Lateness
Absences: Because each day in a summer school class equals two days in a regular semester, you may
miss only two classes. These absences include excused or unexcused absences, family tragedies, medical
emergencies, or other unforeseeable circumstances. Beginning with the third absence, I will lower your
grade a letter for each additional absence. After five absences, you will receive an F for the course.
The only exceptions to this policy: school activities, such as musical performances or athletics. Please
budget carefully.
Notes from doctors will not help. I assume you will only skip class because of real illness.
Tardiness: Once I close the door, you are tardy. After three tardies, I will mark you down for one
absence. If you arrive 15 or more minutes late, or leave early, I will mark you absent. Please arrange
your schedule accordingly.
This policy is consistent with the university attendance policy.
Academic Integrity
This policy addresses academic integrity violations of undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate
students should read inside the parenthesis below to identify the appropriate entities in charge of that
step of the process.
Students, faculty, staff, and administrators of Western Carolina University (WCU) strive to achieve the
highest standards of scholarship and integrity. Any violation of the Academic Integrity Policy is a serious
offense because it threatens the quality of scholarship and undermines the integrity of the community.
While academic in scope, any violation of this policy is by nature, a violation of the Code of Student
Conduct and will follow the same conduct process (see ArticleVII.B.1.a.). If the charge occurs close to the
end of an academic semester or term or in the event of the reasonable need of either party for
additional time to gather information timelines may be extended at the discretion of the Department of
Student Community Ethics (DSCE).
Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy include:
Cheating - Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any
academic exercise.
Fabrication – Creating and/or falsifying information or citation in any academic exercise.
Plagiarism - Representing the words or ideas of someone else as one’s own in any academic exercise.
Facilitation - Helping or attempting to help someone to commit a violation of the Academic Integrity
Policy in any academic exercise (e.g. allowing another to copy information during an examination)
Any violation of the Academic Integrity Policy will result in no less than failure of the assignment and, if
egregious enough, failure of the course. I report all violations to Student Community Ethics. I am
required to meet with you to discuss any violations, and will withhold your grade until you have
attended that meeting and signed all required forms.
WCU instructors reserve the right to use plagiarism prevention software (such as SafeAssignment.com),
library resources, as well as Google, Yahoo, and/or other Internet search engines to determine whether
or not student papers have been plagiarized. With plagiarism prevention software, instructors may
upload student papers into a searchable database or teach students how to upload their own work as
part of the course requirements.
Electronic Devices in Class
Unless you have a documented disability which requires you to have a laptop in class, you may not use
one during class time. Unfortunately, too many students have abused laptops in class for me to permit
their use. The same is true for cell phones, IPods, Gameboys, or any device that requires headphones. If
you must keep your cell phone on, please turn off the ringer and put it away. First-time abuses of this
policy will result in the student being warned. Subsequent abuses will result in an absence.
If you are using an e-reader or kindle, you agree to let me look at your screen to verify. If you text or
email during class, you forfeit your right to use electronic texts on an e-reader.
The policy above also covers text messaging. I consider text or instant messaging or any other activity
that distracts your classmates and keeps you from learning to be unforgivable.
Conventions and Abbreviations
To refer to periods before the year 0, we use "BCE" which means "before the common era," rather than
BC ("before Christ.") "CE" is used, of course, to refer to events after the year 0.
To discuss the first half of the bible, we use the tern Hebrew Bible rather than Old Testament, which
implies that there is a newer testament, a contention that not everyone accepts.
Texts
Rental: Harris, Stephen. Understanding the Bible. 7th Edition. McGraw-Hill Humanities, ISBN:
0072965487
Purchase: Coogan, Michael, et al. eds. New Oxford Annotated Bible With the Apocrypha: New Revised
Standard Version College Edition--Oxford UP. Fourth Edition. (Buy used on Amazon) Note: This edition of
the bible is required.
Purchase: Friedman, Richard Elliott. The Bible with Sources Revealed. ISBN: 978-0060730659.
HarperOne; Reprint edition (August 16, 2005).
Assignments
Daily Quizzes and Participation 25%
Papers (Four-- 15% each) 60%
Final Exam -- In Class (15%)
Quizzes
I will give 5-minutes quizzes at the beginning of every class. Quizzes are multiple choice or short answer
questions based on the reading due that day, but each also includes an essay response based on the
content of either the bible or the Harris text. They may cover the Bible Reading, the Harris background
reading, films I showed the class before, and/ or the Oxford Bible's Introduction to the bible reading.
They may also include vocabulary or terms covered for that class. You may use your notes for the
quizzes, but you cannot use the textbook.
Papers
I will assign 4 papers (15% each). One will be due each week. See the schedule for details. These papers
will involve primary sources (the bible itself in various translations). One will also require the use of a
book on reserve in the library.
Exam
The final in this class (10%) will be written. You may only take it on the assigned final exam date. It will
combine short answer and essay questions, and may cover reading, lecture and discussion, assigned
web sites, and films we watched in class. Before the final exam, I will give you a study guide that
contains a list of short answer questions and essay questions, and I will pick the exam questions from
that list.
Other Required Information
WCU Statement on Accommodations for students with disabilities:
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is committed to providing
equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities and/or medical
conditions. Students who require reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having a
disability and/or medical condition and provide current diagnostic documentation to Disability
Services. All information is confidential. Please contact the Office of Disability Services for more
information at (828) 227-3886. You may also visit the office’s website: disability.wcu.edu
Schedule of readings
Week 1
Monday, June 2
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Introduction, Film: Kingdom of David Part 1
 Homework for tomorrow: Read Ruth (NRSV) and Harris Chapter 1 and 2
Tuesday, June 3
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Ruth and the Festival Scrolls; Chapters 1 and 2 of Harris
 Homework for tomorrow: Lamentations (NRSV); 2 Chronicles 36; and Harris Chapter 3
Wednesday, June 4
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Lamentations and the Conquest/Exile; Tisha B’av; Ancient
dirges and ancient/ modern city laments
 Homework for tomorrow: Paper 1: Translation (due Tuesday, June 10) assigned.
 Reading for tomorrow: Isaiah 1,2,6,7, 14, 40-55; Ezekiel 1-11, 33,37 (NRSV); Harris chapter 6 pp
165-72, box 6.3, 191-198.
Thursday, June 5
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Assyrian and Babylonian Conquests and Prophecies
 Homework for tomorrow: Reading for next class: Ezra 1:1‐4; 7:10:44; Nehemiah 8-13 (NRSV) and
Harris section on Ezra and Nehemiah
Friday, June 6
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Ezra and Nehemiah and post-exile reconstruction/ community
 Homework for Monday: Genesis 1-25 (NRSV); Harris 62-79
Week 2
Monday, June 9
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Genesis 1-25
 Homework for tomorrow: Harris 80-93; Genesis 25-36 (and see blessing in 49)
 Reminder: Paper due tomorrow
Tuesday, June 10
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Jacob and his covenant; other Near Eastern Creation myths;
Film about Joseph
 Homework for tomorrow: Exodus 1-15, 18-20, 32-4 (NRSV); Harris 93-104
Wednesday, June 11
 Today’s Discussion and Activities:
 Homework for tomorrow: Deuteronomy (1-4,5-6 (shema), 7:1-6) and Judges (1-4, 9, 11, 14, 1921) (NRSV); Harris 112-3 including Box 4.11); 123-125 (Deuteronomistic history), and Box 5.1
 Paper 2 assigned (due Tuesday, June 17)
Thursday, June 12
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Deuteronomy and the beginnings of the Deuteronomic
History (Judges)
 Homework for tomorrow: Harris 141- 164 plus selections from Samuel and Kings:
o 1 Samuel 28 (necromancy, holy war)
o 2 Samuel 7:1-16 (covenant)
o 1 Kings 3 (succession; legends of Solomon)
o 1 Kings 17-22;
o 2 Kings 1:1-12 (Elijah);
o 2 Kings 9 (Ahab and Jezebel)
Friday, June 13
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Samuel and Kings: the Post-Egyptian period to the Babylonian
exile; Film: Kingdom of David Part 2 (Wisdom Literature and Writings)
 Homework for tomorrow: Job 1-13; 19, 36-42 (NRSV) and Harris 208-214; 223-232
Week 3
Monday, June 16
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Job and Wisdom Literature
 Homework for tomorrow: Jonah; Harris 204-7
 Reminder: Paper 2 due
Tuesday, June 17
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Film and Jonah
 Homework for tomorrow: Ecclesiastes; Proverbs 1.1-9.18; plus Harris 232-236
 Paper 3 Assigned (due Monday, June 23)
Wednesday, June 18
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Late second temple writings; Ecclesiastes and Proverbs
 Homework for tomorrow: Esther (NRSV) plus Harris text on Esther 204-208, 241-244
Thursday, June 19
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Esther and the Apocryphal editions to Esther
 Homework for tomorrow: 1 Maccabees Chapter 1, plus Daniel (all) (NRSV); Harris 274-279
Friday, June 20
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Daniel and Apocalyptic Literature; Film: Apocalypse
 Homework for tomorrow:
o Harris: skim chapter 10 and read 284-294; (Apocrypha) 295-6 (Tobit)
o NRSV: Tobit (in the Apocrypha)
o Reminder: Paper 3 due
Week 4
Monday, June 23
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Apocryphal Literature; Enoch and Pseudepigraphical
apocalyptic literature; My PowerPoint: The world between the Testaments; Film: Banned from
the Bible AND/OR Kingdom of David Part 3
 Homework for tomorrow: Harris chapter 14; I Thessalonians; Romans 4-7; James 2
 Paper 4 assigned (due Monday, June 30)
Tuesday, June 24
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Film on Paul; Paul and James
 Homework for tomorrow: Harris 360-374 and Gospel of Mark (NRSV)
Wednesday, June 25
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Film: Banned from the Bible (continued) and Mark
 Homework for tomorrow: Selections from the Gospel of Matthew
Thursday, June 26
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Gospel of Matthew
 Homework for MONDAY: Selections from John’s Gospel; Gospel of Judas
 Reminder: Paper 4 due Monday
Friday, June 27
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: No class; watch film Kingdom of David Part 4
 Homework for tomorrow: (see yesterday’s listing)
Week 5
Monday, June 30
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: John and Gnosticism
 Homework for tomorrow: read John for final if you didn’t already
 Paper 4 due
Tuesday, July 1
 Today’s Discussion and Activities: Film; prepare for final
 Homework for tomorrow: Write Final Exam (due by midnight on Wednesday)
Wednesday, July 2
FINAL EXAM (out of class)