An investigation of Western literary and artistic
interpretations of the Bible, its narratives, characters, and
themes.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Graduate students will be expected to engage critically with the
material on a level that conforms with the standards of
scholarship set forth by the Graduate School. For every primary
text assigned, graduate students will be required to examine a
minimum of two critical articles and demonstrate that they can
integrate their knowledge of secondary sources with their own
analysis of the primary text. Graduate student papers will be
twice the length of undergraduate student papers and involve a
substantial research component: they will be asked to
incorporate primary evidence (historical, archeological,
philological) into an integrated analysis of the text or texts
they choose to examine.
Athena Title
Bible in Literature and Art
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in CMLT 4160E or CMLT 6160E
Undergraduate Prerequisite
Experience engaging critically with literary or other texts and experience developing and expressing ideas in written and oral form.
Graduate Prerequisite
Experience engaging critically with literary or other texts and experience developing and expressing ideas in written and oral form.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will be able to evaluate how historical, theological, and cultural contexts shape interpretations of biblical narratives and characters across literary, artistic, and cinematic works.
Students will be able to analyze how genre, medium, and artistic form influence interpretation and representation of biblical themes in literature, painting, sculpture, drama, and film.
Students will be able to synthesize biblical, literary, and critical sources to formulate original interpretations that situate Western artistic works within ongoing cultural and theological debates.
Students will be able to develop and express clear, persuasive interpretations of biblical themes and their artistic afterlives in written, oral, and visual forms appropriate to academic and public audiences.
Students will be able to reflect critically on the ethical and aesthetic implications of reimagining sacred texts in secular and artistic contexts, and articulate their reflections through written argument and discussion.
Topical Outline
The course is organized as a series of parallel investigations: a close reading of a particular section of the Hebrew Bible or New Testament followed by a close reading of a number of works of literature and art that recreate the story, characters, and themes of the biblical text. The specific works studied will vary with the individual instructor. The following is a sample of readings for a single semester:
Genesis 22 (binding of Isaac)
Genesis 37-50 (Joseph)
Judges 13-16 (Samson)
1-2 Samuel (King David)
Gospel of Mark
Gospel of John
Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling (1843)
John Milton, Samson Agonistes (1671)
Ze'ev Jabotinsky, Samson the Nazarine (1930)
Cecile B. DeMille, Samson and Delilah (1949)
Joseph Heller, God Knows (1984)
Nikos Kazantzakis, The Last Temptation (1960)
Norman Jewison, Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Terry Jones, Life of Brian (1979)
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
