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

• Superior document: Biblical interpretation series ; Volume 56
• VerfasserIn: Resseguie, James L.,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, The Netherlands ;, Boston ;, Koln : : Brill,, [2001]; ©2001
• Year of Publication: 2001
• Language: English
• Series: Biblical interpretation series ; Volume 56.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource.

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.

Table of 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 -- Conclusion -- 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 -- Conclusion -- 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 -- Spatial Point of View -- Phraseological Point of View -- Temporal Point of View -- Psychological Point of View -- Ideological Point of View -- Bibliography -- Index -- Biblical Interpretation Series.