Body as landscape, love as intoxication : conceptual metaphors in the Song of songs / Brian P. Gault.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gault, Brian P., author.

Series:

Ancient Israel and its literature.

Ancient Israel and its literature ; Number 36

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Song of Solomon--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (315 pages).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Atlanta, Georgia : SBL Press, [2019]

Summary:

Explore metaphors in the exquisite and enigmatic poetry of Song of Songs One of the chief difficulties in interpreting the Song's lyrics is the unusual imagery used to depict the lovers' bodies. Why is the maiden's hair compared to a flock of goats (4:1), the man's cheeks likened to garden beds of spice (5:13), and the eyes of both lovers described as doves (4:1; 5:12)? While scholars speculate on the significance of these images, a systematic inquiry into the Song's body metaphors is curiously absent. Based on insights from cognitive linguistics, this study incorporates biblical and comparative data to uncover the meaning of these metaphors surveying literature in the eastern Mediterranean (and beyond) that shares a similar form (poetry) and theme (love). Gault presents an interpretation of the Song's body imagery that sheds light on the perception of beauty in Israel and its relationship to surrounding cultures. Features Exploration of the Song's use of universal themes and culturally specific variations Discussion of the Song's literary structure and unity

Contents:

Cover

Contents

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

A Lock with No Key?

Missing Key

I Am

Nature as Erotica

Anatomy of a Rose

Outstanding among Ten Thousand

Conclusions

Bibliography

Ancient Sources Index

Modern Authors Index.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-88414-383-X