Description:
This Biblical Genre Module represents a chance for you to think through what it would have been like to be the biblical author of a creation narrative. The Catholic Church teaches that the inspiration of the biblical text by the Holy Spirit does not exclude the character, personality, perspectives, and even limitations of the human author. For this Biblical Genre Module, you will be required to author a creation narrative as well as critical commentary in which you identify the author, context, and textual details that are important for understanding your text. Creativity, both literary and artistic, is strongly encouraged.
Requirements:
Creation Manuscript (approx. 400-700 words)
Narrative elements
Genre: poetry or prose
Explananda:
The emergence of the created order
The order of nature and natural things
Celestial bodies
Cycles of time
Flora and Fauna
Human beings
Theological elements
Characterization of God
God’s mode of creating
God’s relationship to humanity
Textual Commentary (approx. 400-700 words)
Historical context
Authorship/Composition information
Form analysis
Poetic/prose features
Structure
Pattern
Literary analysis
Character
Setting
Tone
Imagery
Linguistic analysis
Vocabulary
Meaning of proper names
Assessment:
Creation Myth (40 pts) – You will be graded on the internal content of the narrative in terms of both the requirements listed above and the sophistication and care with which you execute them
Commentary (40 pts) – You will be graded on how well you explain the narrative and provide relevant information necessary for interpretating the text of your narrative.
Creativity (20 pts) – You will be graded on how much thought you put into making your narrative and commentary interesting, compelling, literarily elegant, and artistically presented. You will not lose points if you choose not present your narrative artistically, but extra points maybe given for those who do.