Unit name | Ancient Jewish Novels |
---|---|
Unit code | THRSM0131 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Professor. Gethin |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit is concerned with a selection of writings that can be described as ancient Jewish novels or novellas from what scholars call the Second Temple period (circa 500 BCE – 70 CE) of Judaism. Chief among them are the books of Ruth, Esther, Judith, and Tobit, as well as what is arguably one of the world’s oldest detective stories in the chapter about Susana found in one edition of Daniel! While some consideration will be given to similarities to and differences from both the Hellenistic-Roman novel and modern novel, the unit will focus on these fascinating and diverse classic Jewish writings from a range of perspectives, including the historical, literary, and theological.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
2 hour seminar per week
1 x summative essay of 5000 words (100%) [ILOs 1-7]
A Brenner, A Feminist Companion to Esther, Judith, and Susanna (1995);
F Bush, Ruth/Esther (1996);
T Cohn Eskenazi & T Frymer-Kensky, Ruth (2011);
E Lucas, Daniel (2002); CA Moore, Tobit: A New Translation with Commentary (1996);
LM Wills, The Jewish Novel in the Ancient World (1995).