Choose ONE of the two prompts below and write an essay on it.
The essay has to refer to the book Genesis –
Alter, R. (1997). Genesis. New York: W.W. Norton.
Prompt 1: In one or more sections of Genesis, consider the text’s attention to “earth” and/or “land” or related concepts. How are these ideas envisioned, described, understood? How do humans interact with or affect one or the other, and vice versa? Can you trace a pattern in the use of one or the other?
Prompt 2: Genesis is characterized by lots of intriguing use of language – speeches, oaths, covenants, invocations, dialogue. Choose one such discursive form to analyze closely and create an argument that involves attention to this form. Does it appear at a certain point in striking contrast to others? Is there a particular dialogue that catalyzes the action for some reason? Could you compare two speeches which seem to be treating the same idea, but do so in very different ways? Do oaths function differently when they are divine or human? From those in power, or those underneath them? Etc.
The main purpose of this assignment is for you to practice starting from textual evidence to build an argument about an aspect of the Genesis. Identify a passages and/or patterns within the text that you feel addresses the prompt and perform a close reading: engage not only with the content or narrative of your selected citations but with the form—particular language used, on the level of syntax and word choice. Start with what is confusing, interesting, weird, striking, and see what you discover! Consider how a narrative is told or a thought expressed, not just what is said. In concluding, you might consider the implications of your close reading and your chosen citations for the larger work; what might they suggest or demonstrate about the work taken as a whole? Avoid textually ungrounded generalizations about abstract themes (“love,” “power,” “time,” “justice,” “humanity” etc.); make sure that you provide textual evidence to back up your specific claims.
– Remember to cite passages that you close-read in the text, but do not allow your citations to take over and speak for you; be sure that you are choosing passages that support and advance your argument, and make sure you discuss the passages you cite in depth rather than simply sprinkling citations around.
– The prompts offer guiding questions, but you need not address them all! In fact, you will have to work to narrow the scope of your argument enough that you can work closely with the text.
– Include a title! This is a key method of framing your argument for your reader.
– Keep plot summaries minimal; the goal is not to retell the story but to analyze it.
– Ask yourself if someone who has also read the Iliad or Genesis would be able to learn something new or come to a new understanding of the text from your paper.
– 12-pt font
– Double space
– Number pages
– Cite by chapter and verse for Genesis (4.31).
