The Bible and the Comic Vision

by J. William Whedbee

Overview

This insightful work examines the variety of ways comedy is employed in the Old Testament. Biblical comedy unveils "a comic vision that oscillates between attack and affirmation, corrective and celebration, ridicule and revel." Here Whedbee reveals the subtle uses of parody and satire to subversive effect in six biblical books. But "the Bible characteristically does not stop with subversion, for the texts usually drive on toward an affirmation of life and a celebration of the wonder and hopefulness of creation.... In sum, subversion and celebration typically belong together in a comprehensive view of biblical comedy: subversion often serving to undercut and clear away obstacles to the realization of fertility and forgiveness; and celebration finding expression in festivals of freedom and hope."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800634865
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	06/28/2002
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

J. William Whedbee is the Nancy M. Lyon Professor of Biblical Literature and History at Pomona College (Claremont, California). He is also the author of Isaiah and Wisdom.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	viii
	Note on translation and transliteration	xii
	Introduction: An Anatomy of Comedy in the Bible	1
Part I	The Genesis of Comedy-the Comedy of Genesis	15
1	The Comedy of Creation (Genesis 1-11)	19
2	Domestic Comedy in the Household of Faith (Genesis 12-50)	64
Part II	The Drive to Comic Regeneration	127
3	Liberation and Laughter: Exodus and Esther	129
4	Jonah as Joke	191
5	The Comedy of Job	221
6	Paradox and Parody in the Song of Solomon	263
	Conclusion: A Comprehensive View of Biblical Comedy	278
	Bibliography	289
	Index of Authors	301
	Index of Biblical References	304
	Index of Topics	312