The strange Gospel : narrative design and point of view in John / by James L. Resseguie.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Resseguie, James L., author.

Series:

Biblical interpretation series ; Volume 56.

Biblical interpretation series ; Volume 56

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. John--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

Leiden, The Netherlands ; Boston ; Koln : Brill, [2001]

Summary:

In this literary analysis of the Gospel of John, Resseguie examines rhetoric, setting, character, and plot to uncover the Gospel's unique point of view. He shows the usefulness of the concepts of defamiliarization and point of view for understanding how the narrator makes the familiar seem strange. A material, familiar point of view that is voiced by the dominant culture is compared with a defamiliarized, strange point of view that is expressed by Jesus and the disenfranchised. Through close readings of narrative texts, the author develops and elaborates the theological perspective of John, which emerges in the clash of differing points of view. The introduction defines "objective" and "subjective" point of view, and shows the value of the works of Boris Uspensky and Susan Sniader Lanser for understanding the Gospel of John. In chapter one, irony, misunderstandings, and double entendres are shown to be important rhetorical tools in the Gospel's attempt to make the familiar seem strange. Chapter two discusses point of view as it is expressed in architectural settings (sheepfold, garden, courtyard, praetorium, well, temple, and tomb) and in topographical settings (sea, mountain). Chapter three highlights the distinct points of view of Jesus, Nicodemus, religious authorities, the world, the royal official, the man at the pool, the man born blind, Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, the beloved disciple, and Judas. Chapter four discusses the point of view that emerges from an analysis of the plot. The final chapter is a summary of the narrative's singular point of view. This work is a suitable introduction to a literary analysis of the Gospel of John. It makes an important contribution to narrative criticism on the Fourth Gospel in particular, and to our understanding of defamiliarization and point of view in general. The book confronts head-on habitualized and familiar ways of thinking in the ancient world and today.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

Illustrations and Tables

Acknowledgements

INTRODUCTION: POINT OF VIEW

Objective and Subjective Point of View

Ideological Point of View

Spatial Point of View

Temporal Point of View

Phraseological Point of View

Characters' Speech

Narrator's Speech

Psychological Point of View

Ripe Figs

The Narrator

The Reader

I. POINT OF VIEW BY RHETORIC

Language of Estrangement

Irony

Misunderstandings

Double entendres

Conclusion

II. POINT OF VIEW THROUGH SETTING

Inside and Outside

Sheepfold

Garden

Courtyard

Praetorium

Center and Perimeter

Well

Temple

Tomb

Near and Far

Sea

Mountain

III. POINT OF VIEW IN CHARACTER

Jesus

What the Narrator Says

What Others Say about Jesus

Jesus' Speech

Jesus' Actions

Dominant Characters

Nicodemus

The Jews

The World

The Royal Official

Marginalized Characters

The Man at the Pool of Bethzatha

The Man Born Blind

Mary Magdalene

The Disciples

Simon Peter

The Beloved Disciple

Thomas

Judas Iscariot

IV. POINT OF VIEW AND PLOT

Shape of the Plot

Point of View in Plot

The Stable Condition

The Downward Turn

The Dénouement

The Upturn and a New Stable Condition

V. CONCLUSION

Bibliography

Index

Biblical Interpretation Series.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [203]-211) and indexes.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

90-04-49476-6

OCLC:

1245819254

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004494763 DOI