HEB
368
The Bible in the Middle Ages
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Fall 2006
Class: T/Th
Instructor: Michael Lyons email: malyons@wisc.edu
Office: 1352 Van Hise Hall office phone: # 263-2835
Office Hours: Tues
Course description and goals:
As modern readers, we come to the Bible with a set of inherited interpretations. It can be quite surprising to us, then, when we find that medieval readers offer completely different interpretations of the Bible than the ones we are accustomed to. Medieval readers used different reading strategies than we do; they asked different questions of the text than we do; they were bothered by different details than we are. The goal of this class is to provide the tools for understanding and appreciating the uses of the Bible in the medieval period.
The Bible played a
very
significant role in shaping medieval society.
Likewise, social and historical factors influenced the ways in
which
people used the Bible in the Middle Ages. In this class we will pay attention to the
relationship between Bible reading and the socio-historical context in
which
medieval readers were situated. We will
give particular attention to medieval Jewish interpretation of biblical
texts
in
Office hours and Special Accommodations:
I am
available during office hours and by appointment. Please see me
as soon
as possible if you are having difficulty with the course.
Students
needing special accommodations for disabilities should provide
documentation
from the
Textbooks:
The Bible. Use a modern English translation, such as:
- Jewish Publication Society Tanakh
- New Revised Standard Version
Required
Requirements and Grading:
1. Attendance: you are expected to attend class and participate. Three absences are allowed. After three absences, one half-grade per class missed will be deducted from the final grade.
2.
3. Assignments (30%): there are regular written assignments (18 total) connected with the readings. These assignments will guide you in your reading, allow you to discuss topics intelligently in class, and assist you in studying for your exams. Assignments are due at the beginning of each class and must be submitted in typed hardcopy (i.e., not emailed, not handwritten). Late assignments will NOT be graded, because the topics they cover will be discussed in class on the day they are due. Individual assignments will be graded on a three-point scale: late/not turned in (0 points); incomplete/inadequate (1 point); complete/adequate (2 points).
4. Independent Research Projects (10%): there will be two independent research projects on given topics, both due on Thur Nov 30. Late assignments will receive a zero grade.
5.
Exams (30%
each): There will be two exams in the course, a midterm (Thursday, Oct
19) and
a final (Wed Dec 20 at
Grading
scale:
A
94.0-100
C 70.0-75.9
AB
88.0-93.9
D 60.0-69.9
B
82.0-87.9
F 0-59.9
BC 76.0-81.9
Useful Reference Sources:
Encyclopaedia Judaica.
Catholic Encyclopedia on line: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/
Guide to medieval terms on line: http://orb.rhodes.edu/Medieval_Terms.html
Historical context:
E.
Barnavi, Historical Atlas of the Jewish
People. From the times of the Patriarchs to
the Present.
C.
W. Hollister, Medieval
R.P.
Scheindlin. A Short
History of the
Jewish People. From Legendary Times
to Modern
Statehood.
Texts and interpretation:
G.W.H.
Lampe (ed.). The
J. Rogerson (ed.). The Oxford Illustrated History of the Bible. Oxford: 2001.
M. Saebo (ed.). Hebrew Bible. Old Testament. The History of Its Interpretation. 1/2 The Middle Ages. G�ttingen: 2000.
B. Smalley. The Study of the Bible in the Middle Ages. Notre Dame: 1964.
Tentative
Schedule
All
readings and assignments are due on the day indicated.� All
readings are from the course reader
unless marked as "Bible"
|
Tues |
|
Thurs |
|
SEPT 5 Introduction |
|
7 Introduction, cnt'd |
|
12 Early Jewish Use of the Bible
Reading: Signer; Assignment 1 |
|
14 Early Christian Use of the Bible |
|
19 The Bible as Artifact: Book Production and
Reading Reading: Song of Songs (Bible); Assignment 2 |
|
21 Jewish and Christian Education Reading: Rosenthal; Assignment 3 |
|
26 Jewish and Christian Education, cnt'd Reading: Ruth (Bible); Assignment 4 |
|
28� The Bible in
Jewish Sermon and Liturgy Reading: selections from Pesikta
Rabbati; Assignment 5 |
|
OCT 3 Bible and Midrash Reading: selections from Genesis Rabbah; Assignment 6 |
|
5 Bible and Midrash,
cnt'd |
|
10 Backgrounds to Medieval Christian
Interpretation Reading: selections from Origen,
On First Principles and Song of Songs; Assignment 7 |
|
12 Backgrounds to Medieval Christian
Interpretation Reading: selections from Augustine, On
Christian Doctrine and On Genesis; Assignment 8 |
|
17 Synthesis and Review |
|
19 Midterm |
|
24 Jewish Commentators: The Bible in Ashkenaz Reading: Rashi
on Genesis 1-3; Assignment 9 |
|
26 Jewish Commentators: The Bible in Ashkenaz, cnt'd Reading: Rashi
on Song of Songs 1; Assignment 10 |
|
31 Jewish Commentators: The Bible in Sepharad Reading: Ibn
Ezra, comments on Genesis 1; Assignment 11 |
|
NOV 2 Jewish Commentators: The
Bible in Sepharad, cnt'd Reading: Ibn
Ezra on Song of Songs; Assignment 12 |
|
7 Medieval Christian Commentators Reading: selections from Gregory the Great,
Bernard of Clairvaux, and Nicolas of Lyra on Song of Songs; Assignment 13 |
|
9 Medieval Christian Commentators, cnt'd Reading: Hugh of St. Cher
and Nicolas of Lyra on Ruth; Assignment 14 |
|
14 The Bible in Medieval Philosophy Reading: selections from Maimonides,
Guide for the Perplexed; Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica; Assignment 15 |
|
16� The Bible in
Christian Liturgy |
|
21 The Bible in Medieval Jewish Poetry |
|
23 Thanksgiving Break |
|
28 The Bible and Jewish Mysticism Reading: Ezekiel 1, 10 (Bible); selections on
the Chariot in the Dead Sea Scrolls; Assignment 16 |
|
30� The Bible and
Jewish Mysticism, cnt'd Reading: selections from the Babylonian
Talmud, H[agigah; Assignment 17 DUE:
your two Independent Research Projects |
|
DEC 5 The Bible in Jewish-Christian Polemic Reading: selection from Nachmanides;
Assignment 18 |
|
7 The Bible in Jewish-Christian Polemic, cnt'd |
|
12� �The
Rise of Christian Hebraism |
|
14 Last Day Class:� Synthesis
and Review |
FINAL
EXAM: WED
Dec 20th, 2:45
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Latest revision date: 7/18/2006 (cad)