AOS 1 Flashcards
two broad divisions of literary forms found in Scripture (the Bible)
- Collective and Individual forms
2. Narrative and Non-narrative forms
The Important Types of Collective Literary Forms (3 Types)
- Saga
- Epic
- Gospel
Saga definition
A set of narratives that focus on one person or hero
e.g. the saga of Abraham or the saga of Joseph from Genesis, the saga of Indiana Jones from the movie trilogy
S= Single person
Epic definition
A set of narratives that generally focus on a group
e.g. a tribe, nation etc.
Examples: the exodus story of the Hebrew people
E= Everyone
Gospel definition
It literally means “good news”. This is a set of stories specifically designed to inform about the teachings of life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
G= Good News = Jesus
Individual Narrative Literary Forms (9 subsections)
- Creation Story/Myth
- Annunciation
- Nativity
- Call Story
- Parable
- Rescue Miracle
- Healing Miracle
- Theophany
- Ressurection Narrative
Creation Story/Myth
to explain the origins of the world, of people, animals, plants, usually focusing on god/s role and humanity
Annunciation
A special message is sent to foretell the birth of a child who will have a special role in God’s plan
purpose: to introduce an important person to the overall narrative
Annunciation=Announcement
Nativity
A story concerning the actual birth and early days of a particular child, often emphasising the child’s future role
Call Story
A specific person is summoned to perform a special task or join a special group
Parable
A teaching story with a spiritual truth, usually portrayed within a larger story as a story-teller speaking to a specific person or audience
Rescue Miracle
A supernatural act which saves a person or group from danger, often used to emphasise the ‘God-who-cares’.
Healing Miracle
A supernatural act which restores a person to good health, often used to show that the healer is God or has God’s authority
Theophany
A story emphasising the actual presence of the divine in some special way
e.g. by dramatic appearance, sound or event
Examples: burning bush, pillar of fire etc.
Ressurection Narrative
A supernatural act, restoring a dead person to full life OR an encounter with a person who has returned from death to life.
Individual Non-Narrative Literary Forms (5 types)
Genealogy Liturgy Law/s Proverb Poems
Genealogy
A family tree or line of familial descent, often used to show a person to have an important role be linking them to earlier significant people
e.g. gospel of Luke- Genealogy of Jesus
Liturgy
Examples or instructions as to how to conduct prayers and rituals
Law/s- 2 types
Apoditic law: guidelines for behaviour, expressed as what should or should not happen e/g/ thou shalt not. Most of the 10 commandements are apoditic laws
Casuistic law: Guidelines for behaviour, with conditional consequences. e.g. if you do this, then that will happen.
Proverbs
Short sayings of advice ro life-wisdom (early bird gets the worm etc.)