COMP 207
Genesis: The Family Saga
Last Offered Spring 2020
Division I
Cross-listed JWST 208 / REL 208
This course is not offered in the current catalog

Class Details

The Book of Genesis has rightly been described as the masterpiece of Hebrew biblical narrative. In particular, the continuous tale that begins with Abraham and Sarah and extends four generations to the children of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel is one of the most extraordinary examples of literary artistry in any time or tradition. As one family wrestles with the promise of becoming a chosen people, the narrative explores themes of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, land, violence, wandering, and, above all, the complex relationship between humanity and God. This course will examine those themes through a close reading of Genesis in translation, from Abraham and Sarah’s first appearance on the scene to the death of Jacob. We will consider the text from multiple perspectives with an eye toward understanding the literary, philosophical, and psychological dimensions that continue to amaze and perplex readers to this day.
The Class: Format: seminar
Limit: 19
Expected: 19
Class#: 3658
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: class participation, a series of short writing assignments, and two longer papers
Prerequisites: none
Enrollment Preferences: students who have already taken a course in Biblical literature
Distributions: Division I
Notes: This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
JWST 208 Division II REL 208 Division II COMP 207 Division I
Attributes: JWST Core Electives

Class Grid

Updated 6:25 am

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