Poetry and prophecy : : the image of the poet as a "prophet", a hero and an artist in modern Hebrew poetry / / by Reuven Shoham.

• Superior document: Brill's series in Jewish studies ; Volume 31
• VerfasserIn: Shoham, Reʼuven,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, The Netherlands ;, Boston : : Brill,, [2003]; ©2003
• Year of Publication: 2003
• Language: English
• Series: Brill's series in Jewish studies ; Volume 31.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource.

The book discusses the image of the prophet and the role of prophecy in Modern Hebrew Poetry. The first part of the book presents the prophetic archetypal biographies of prophets, heroes and artists in Hebrew and European mythologies. It also examines the historical facts which lead to the departure of the prophet from Hebrew literature following the destruction of the second temple. Finally, it addresses the necessity of reappearance of the prophet in the 18th and 19th centuries in Hebrew thought and literature and provides a short history of that reappearance in Haskala literature. The second part focuses upon three major "prophets poets": Haim N. Bialik, Avraham Shlonski and Uri Z. Greenberg. The book may be of interest to scholars of Literature, Judaism, Philosophy, Science of Religion, Anthropology, Folklore and Rhetoric.

Table of Contents

Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- CONTENTS -- Hebrew Alphabet and Transliteration -- Chapter One Introduction -- A. The poet as ''prophet", "savior", and "artist": The historical imperative -- B. The formulaic biographies of the hero, the prophet and the artist -- C. The Departure of Prophecy in the Rabbinic Literature and the Yearning for its Return after the Completion of the Talmud -- Chapter Two First Steps in Haskala and "Hibbat, Zion" Literature: From the Wise Commentator to the Prophetic Poet -- A. The divine poetry in S. Levison's Eloquence of Yeshurun and Y. Erter's The Watchman unto the House of Israel -- B. Love if, Zion by Avraham Mapu: Amnon, as Poet and Prophetic Hero in the Courtyard of Isaiah -- C. The Poet as a "Prophet" in the Autobiographical Poetry of Y.L. Gordon -- D. Naftali H. Imber: Prophet of "Hatikva" and "Hibbat ,Zion -- E. The Prophetic Confrontation Between A.H. Ginsberg and B.Z. Herzl -- Chapter Three H.N. Bialik: Autobiography of a Poet-"prophet" and defeated hero in the period of the Hebrew "rebirth -- A. The Birth Story: Between Irony and Sentimentality -- B. "The Revelation" to the "Wondrous Child -- C. The Divine Artist: Between "God of Heaven" and the "God of Mountains and Valleys -- D. An Impossible Savior -- E. The Poet as a Prophet -- 1. The Poet as a Prophet of Admonition -- 2. The Poet as a Prophet of Consolation -- 3. The Poet as a Rebellious Prophet Against his Lord -- 4. The Poet as Unreliable Prophet -- F. Denial of the Prophet and the Prophecy: Between Bialik and Ahad Ha'am -- G. "I-You": Ambivalent Relationships of the Artist with his Audience -- 1. The Misunderstood Genius -- 2. Artistic "Suicide -- 3. The Legend of Departure -- H. "And his Place of his Burial is not Known to this Day -- I. Summary -- Chapter Four Shlonski: The Modernist Artist and "Prophet.

A. The "Prophet" Abraham: Head and Shoulders Above -- B. From on High Will You See the land: The Mythic Viewpoint -- C. The Formulaic Biography and its Realization in Shlonski's Poetry -- 1. Choice and Flight -- 2. "Wondrous" Birth and "Fated" Childhood -- 3. Youth in Arcadia -- 4. A "Man" on the Hard Ways -- 5. "The Secular Pilgrim" on his Way to the Utopian/Distopian Place: Mount Gilbo'a Against Metropolis -- 6. The "Binding" (Ha'aqeda) -- D. Summary -- Chapter Five Uri Zvi Grinberg: the fundamentalist prophet -- A. Wondrous Birth, Anacreontic Youth, and Departure to the Way -- B. The Quest: From "Great Fear" to "King's Mount -- C. Revelation and the Call to the Mission -- D. "The Monster" and the Battle -- 1. Sanbalat as a "Primeval Snake -- 2. The Battle in the Field of Literature -- E. The Royal Matrimony with the "White Goddess -- F. The "Prophet" Rebels Against his God -- G. Accusation, Removal, and Resurrection -- H. The Mission as a Curse and the Impossible Flight -- I. Summary -- Epilogue -- Bibliography -- Index -- BRILL'S SERIES IN JEWISH STUDIES.