Department of English
Professor J.S. North
University of Waterloo
September 2021
English 202A
Literature and the Bible: Old Testament
Time/Place: This fall term the course is in Online Learning mode.
Contact address: jsnorth@uwaterloo.ca Office phone: 519-888-4567 ex 33743.
Texts: The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV). Supplemented by The Holy Bible New International Version (NIV) Published by Zondervan.
Purpose: The Bible is the book most widely translated and read in the history of civilization. Not to know it is to be have a limited understanding of human society. We will read about 2/3 of the Old Testament, studying its major themes, stories, structures and literary elements to consider their effect on English Literature. Occasionally parallels between the Old Testament and the New will be explained.
Assignments:
Essay 1 : Fri Oct 9 : 15 marks
Mid-term : Fri Nov 6 : 20
Essay 2 : Fri Nov 27. : 25
Final Exam : To be arranged : 40
Total : 100 marks
Reading Schedule:
Wed Sept 9--Fri Sept 11: Introduction & Genesis 1-10
Mon Sept 14 – Wed Sept 16 The Flood to Egypt (Genesis 8-50)
Fri Sept 18 -- Mon Sept 21 Exodus: Egypt to Sinai (Ex 1-20)_ The Great Escape
Wed Sep 23 – Fri Sept 25 Sinai to Jordon (Exodus 20 – Numbers 22)
Mon Sep 28– Wed Sept 30 Deuteronomy (Chapters 1-34)
Fri Oct 2 – Mon Oct 5 Joshua (Chap 1-24) & Lesser Judges (Judges Chap 1-5)
Wed Oct 7 – Fri Oct 9. The Judges Gideon and Samson (Judges 6-8; 13 – 16)
Mon Oct 12 – Wed Oct 14 Ruth & Esther
Fri Oct 19 – Wed Oct 21 Samuel and Saul (1 Samuel 1-31)
Fri Oct 23 – Mon Oct 26 David (1 Samuel 16 –31);2 Samuel 1- 24)
Wed Oct 28 – Fri Oct 30 Solomon: His Life & Proverbs (1 Kings 1-11; Proverbs)
Mon Nov 2 –Wed Nov 4 Solomon: Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon
Fri Nov 6 – Mon Nov 9 Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 9)
Wed Nov 11 – Fri Nov 13 Job (Chapters 1-42)
Mon Nov 16 – Wed Nov 18 Psalms
Fri Nov 20 – Mon Nov23 Isaiah (Chapters 1-65)
Wed Nov 25 – Fri Nov 27 Daniel (Chapters 1-6)
Mon Nov 30– Wed Dec 02 Hosea and Jonah
Fri Dec 04 – Mon Dec 7. Micah to Malachi; A Summary
Six Poems: An Explication
Intellectual Property
Students should be aware that this course contains the intellectual property of their Instructor, TA, and/or the University of Waterloo. Intellectual property includes items
Such as:
- Lecture content, spoken and written (and any audio/video recording thereof);
- Lecture handouts, presentations and other materials prepared for the course (e.g., PowerPoint slides);
- Questions or solution sets from various types of assessments (e.g. assignments, quizzes, tests, final exams); and
- Work protected by copyright (e.g., any work authored by the instructor or TA or used by the instructor or TA with permission of the copyright owner).