Introduction to narrative :: Ruth :: Jonah

Hebrew narrative: Ruth and Jonah by Tim Bulkeley

Introduction to the Poetics of Biblical Hebrew Narrative

Narrative

This section defines "narrative" and deals with its relation to issues of fact and fiction, the presence and role of narrative in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the relationship of narrative and history.

Poetics

As the systematic study of narrative literature, narrative poetics addresses questions of narration and authorship, characters and how they are presented, points of view and plot. The following topics will be dealt with directly in this course:

Narration, Characters, Plot and Dialogue

Points of view, narrative speed, irony and humour

Prose and poetry, omission, ambiguity

© Tim Bulkeley, 2008