Interpreting OT Poetry pt 2: Characteristics to Parallelisms

Question 1

Characteristics of Psalms:

What are the three characteristics?

Answer 1

rhythm, poetic sound patterns, parallelism

Question 2

Characteristics of Psalms:
_______:

• The meter or metrical patterns.
• Meter is based upon roughly similar
number of stressed syllables per line.

Answer 2

RHYTHM!!

*A consistent pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that give rhythm to
the poem.

• We are unable to appreciate this in our English translations!

Question 3

Characteristics of Psalms:
Poetic Sound Patterns

• __________: similar sounding consonants
• __________: similar sounding vowels
__________: puns or play on words
• __________: similar sounding pronunciations

Answer 3

• ALLITERATION: similar sounding consonants
• ASSONANCE: similar sounding vowels
PARONOMASIA: puns or play on words
• ONOMATOPOEIA: similar sounding pronunciations

Question 4

Characteristics of Psalms:
Parallelism

Ancient Near Eastern poetry uses the rhythm of ______.

• Two or more _______ poetic lines strengthen, reinforce, and develop each
other’s thought.

Answer 4

Ancient Near Eastern poetry uses the rhythm of THOUGHT.

• Two or more SUCCESSIVE poetic lines strengthen, reinforce, and develop each
other’s thought.

Question 5

Characteristics of Psalms:
Parallelism

• The ______ line seeks to define, specify, expand, intensify or contrast the
_____.

• This is not just ______ the first line, but the successive lines strengthen, reinforce, develop each other’s thoughts

Answer 5

• The SECOND line seeks to define, specify, expand, intensify or contrast the
FIRST.

• This is not just RESTATING the first line, but the successive lines strengthen,

Question 6

Types of Parallelism:

_________ Parallelism

• The second line repeats the first line with the same or similar thought.

Answer 6

SYNONYMOUS Parallelism

*be prepared to read a psalm during the actual quiz and identify which type of parallelism it is

Question 7

Types of Parallelism:
(subtypes of synonymous)

• _______ Synonymous Parallelism
• _______ Synonymous Parallelism
• ISP with ________
• ________ (Climatic) Parallelism

Answer 7

• COMPLETE Synonymous Parallelism [ex: Psalm 24:19]
• INCOMPLETE Synonymous Parallelism [ex: Psalm 24:1]
• ISP with COMPENSATION [ex: Psalm 109:26]
• STAIRCASE (Climatic) Parallelism [ex: Psalm 29:1-2]

Question 8

Types of Parallelism:

________ Parallelism:

The second line balances the first by expressing an opposing or contrasting thought.

Answer 8

ANTITHETICAL Parallelism

Question 9

Types of Parallelism:
(subtypes of antithetical)

• ________ Antithetical Parallelism - opposite yet all central elements are repeated (subject, verb, object)
• ________ Antithetical Parallelism - opposite but not all elements are repeated

Answer 9

• COMPLETE Antithetical Parallelism [ex: Prov. 10:1, Ps. 20:7]
• INCOMPLETE Antithetical Parallelism [ex: Psalm 1:6]

Question 10

Types of Parallelism

_______ Parallelism

• The second line extends the thought of the
first line by ADDING new ideas to the first.
• In developing further the idea expressed in
the first line, often there are NO elements
repeated.

Answer 10

SYNTHETIC Parallelism

[ex: Psalm 42:1, Psalm 139:4]

Question 11

What are the three main types of parallelisms?

Answer 11

Synonymous parallelism, Synthetic Parallelism, Antithetical Parallelism,