Focalization in the Old Testament Narratives with Specific Examples from the Book of Ruth , livre ebook

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180 pages

English

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Since Gérard Genette first coined the term in 1972, focalization has been recognized as one ofthe key concepts in contemporary understandings of narrative. However, in the field of biblical studies, the concept has been largely overlooked. Dr. Konstantin Nazarov seeks to rectify this oversight, exploring the implications of focalization on Old Testament narratology. Utilizing the work of Wolf Schmid and Valeri Tjupa to develop his methodology – and examining the book of Ruth as a case study – Nazarov demonstrates the value of focalization in furthering the appreciation and understanding of biblical texts.
This is an excellent resource for students of narratology, biblical studies scholars, or anyone seeking to better understand the narratives of Scripture.

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Religion

Christianisme

Philosophie et théologie

Christianity

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Publié par	Langham Creative Projects
Date de parution	02 août 2021
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781839735103
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,1250€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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The literary turn in interpreting Old Testament narratives has brought great insight. Yet, important methodological gaps remain. In this enlightening study, Konstantin Nazarov shows the importance of focalization, both filling a methodological gap and demonstrating its value in his reading of Ruth. This important study deserves to be widely read and studied.
David G. Firth, PhD
Old Testament Tutor and Academic Dean,
Trinity College Bristol, UK
This work can indeed be considered as innovative. The author sets himself a rather difficult task: to expand the boundaries of the application of narratological theory and to consider the concept of focalization, which is traditionally used to study contemporary fictional texts in relation to the Old Testament narratives. He also further studies the very idea of focalization, laying a theoretical foundation for this heuristic concept. To do so, he first gives a broader definition of the concept of focalization. Then, based on the latest developments in narratology, he creates a methodology that allows applying the concept of focalization to any texts, including the Old Testament narratives. Worth noting is the author’s desire to show the applicability of his model on a fairly large corpus of narratological material. Thus, the book will be useful both for those who engage in research in general narratology and those who wish to expand their horizons in the field of research of biblical narratives. The work will undoubtedly contribute to the development of dialogue between these disciplines and will affect further research on this topic.
Wolf Schmid, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Slavic Literary Studies,
University of Hamburg, Germany

Focalization in the Old Testament Narratives with Specific Examples from the Book of Ruth
Konstantin Nazarov

© 2021 Konstantin Nazarov
Published 2021 by Langham Monographs
An imprint of Langham Publishing
www.langhampublishing.org
Langham Publishing and its imprints are a ministry of Langham Partnership
Langham Partnership
PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 9WZ, UK
www.langham.org
ISBNs:
978-1-83973-215-7 Print
978-1-83973-510-3 ePub
978-1-83973-511-0 Mobi
978-1-83973-512-7 PDF
Konstantin Nazarov has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.
Requests to reuse content from Langham Publishing are processed through PLSclear. Please visit www.plsclear.com to complete your request.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-83973-215-7
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
Langham Partnership actively supports theological dialogue and an author’s right to publish but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth here or in works referenced within this publication, nor can we guarantee technical and grammatical correctness. Langham Partnership does not accept any responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation of its published content.

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Contents

Cover

Acknowledgements

Abstract

Abbreviations

Introduction

The Purpose of the Research

Why Focalization?

The Review of the Present Research

The Book of Ruth

Expected Contributions

Chapter 1 What Is Focalization?

1.1. Overview of Genette’s Book

1.2. Regrettable Confusion

1.3. Definition of the Term

1.4. Examples of Zero Focalization

1.5. Examples of Internal Focalization

1.6. Examples of External Focalization

1.7. Boundaries between Different Types of Focalization

1.8. Shifts in Focalization

1.9. Conclusion

Chapter 2 Focalization in Old Testament Narratology

2.1. Robert Alter

2.2. Shimon Bar-Efrat

2.3. Adele Berlin

2.4. Meir Sternberg

2.5. Jean Louis Ska

2.6. Jerome Walsh

2.7. Gary Yamasaki

2.8. Conclusion

Chapter 3 Evolution of the Notion of Focalization

3.1. Mieke Bal (1981)

3.2. Boris Uspensky (1970) / Shlomith Rimmon-Kenan (1983)

3.3. Preliminary Conclusions

3.4. Minor Development of the Concept of Focalization in 1990s and 2000s

3.5. Wolf Schmid (2005, 2010)

3.6. Valeri Tjupa (2016)

3.7. Methodology of Studying Focalization in Old Testament Narratives

Chapter 4 Focalization on the Level of Selection of Narrative Information

4.1. Allocation of Episodes in the Book of Ruth

4.2. Intentionality of Events

4.3. The Eventfulness of the Prologue and the Denouement of the Story

4.4. The Eventfulness of the Episodes of the Main Story

4.5. Conclusion of Chapter 4

Chapter 5 Focalization on the Level of Composition

5.1. The Woman Was Left Alone (1:1–22)

5.2. Boaz, a Relative (2:1–19)

5.3. Boaz, a Redeemer (2:20–3:11)

5.4. Pelony Almony, a Closer Relative (3:12–4:12)

5.5. Obed as Predecessor of David (4:17b–22)

5.6. Conclusion: Narrative Strategy of the Book of Ruth

Chapter 6 Focalization on the Level of Presentation

6.1. General Considerations

6.2. Narrative Function

6.3. Evaluative Function

6.4. Referential Function

6.5. Conclusion

Chapter 7 Conclusion

The Results of the Research

Original Contribution

Doors for Further Study

Glossary

Bibliography

About Langham Partnership

Endnotes
Acknowledgements
This research would have been impossible without the many people who supported me in its successful completion. First of all, I express my sincere gratitude to my tutor Prof. Dr. David Firth, who offered me a great honor by accepting me as one of his PhD students. Throughout the years he always encouraged and helped me to improve my skills. During individual consultations in his office and in colloquiums, Dr. Firth was instrumental in proposing directions to my work and finding new and fresh ideas in this relatively new field of biblical studies.
I also would like to pay my respect to Prof. Dr. Paul Kissling, who was my tutor when I was working on my MA/MDiv degree and who fostered my decision to undertake PhD studies, and to Prof. Dr. Valeri Tjupa, who provided good advice while I wrote my dissertation.
I convey my warm thanks to Rex and Sue Wolfe for excellent work on proofreading my work and encouragement which they have given me during all these years.
I express my sincere gratitude to all the supporters and staff of Langham Partnership for their faithful financial and academic support during all these years. In particular I want to thank Dr. Yan Show and Liz MacGregor for helping me to overcome the challenges of academic research.
Several key people demonstrated great patience while I was doing this study. My heartfelt thanks go to Max and Marilyn Goins for the support they offered to our family, and to Phil Casey, who was sensitive to my situation and did not bother me with new projects but waited patiently until I finished my last paragraph.
My sincere appreciation goes to TCM International Institute, where I was working as adjunct professor, and personally to Prof. Dr. Tony Twist and to Prof. Dr. Peter Penner. Thank you for your trust and useful guidelines.
Many thanks to my friends and partners in ministry Alexey and Marina and to our little home church for assistance and prayers.
Finally, I am immensely grateful to my lovely wife Irina, who did much to cover the shortfall of my attention to our four kids – Elisha, Anisya, Semion, and Kira. Indeed, all our friends and neighbors know that you are אֵשֶׁת חַיִל ‎.
Abstract
The works in the field of general narratology that have been written since the concept was first introduced by Gérard Genette in 1972 demonstrate a great dynamic in the development of narratology. Unfortunately, the refinements of Genette’s theory often suffer from an inconsistency of definitions and remain heuristic, which does not allow the dissemination of the achievements to other types of texts (for example, Old Testament narratives). In the field of biblical narratology the concept of focalization (especially its recent development) was largely overlooked, and the attempts to study the Old Testament narratives in relation to the notion of focalization are generally not accompanied by careful examination of the subject.
The purpose of the present research is the consideration of the narratological concept of focalization with regard to the book of Ruth. To this end, the research examines if recent narrative theories suggest a universal methodology of exploring focalization that can be equally applicable to any narrative texts (including Old Testament narratives) and explores the question “what are the specifics of applying this methodology to the Old Testament narratives?”
To answer the question above, the research considers Wolf Schmid’s ideal genetic model of narrative constitution and Valeri Tjupa’s theory of eventfulness and narrative world pictures as universal models for studying focalization. With some modifications and refinements these ideas are transformed into a methodology of studying focalization in the Old Testament narratives.
The application of the method to the book of Ruth shows that on the level of selection of narrative information, the narrator selects sixteen episodes that constitute four narratological events