Difference between revisions of "Literary Devices – Bereshit 34/0"
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<li><b>Daughters and sons</b> – <a href="https://mg.alhatorah.org/TanakhLab/Bereshit/34">Tanakh Lab</a> demonstrates that the words that appear most frequently in in Bereshit 34 are בת and בן, the former appearing 14 times and the latter 11 times. On the most basic level, these guiding words emphasize the family relationships in the story, which lead to the tension and violence of the narrative.</li> | <li><b>Daughters and sons</b> – <a href="https://mg.alhatorah.org/TanakhLab/Bereshit/34">Tanakh Lab</a> demonstrates that the words that appear most frequently in in Bereshit 34 are בת and בן, the former appearing 14 times and the latter 11 times. On the most basic level, these guiding words emphasize the family relationships in the story, which lead to the tension and violence of the narrative.</li> | ||
| − | <li><b>Secondary Literature</b> – See R. Alter, Genesis: Translation and Commentary, (New York, 1996):189 who | + | <li><b>Secondary Literature</b> – See R. Alter, Genesis: Translation and Commentary, (New York, 1996):189 who goes further to suggest that the way the text employs these words highlights the superficial similarity of age and status among the characters in the story, which belies their vastly different positions in society. He notes that Dena’s identity as a "בת" is ostensibly similar to that of the "בנות הארץ" whom she seeks to meet, but her status as a stranger makes her vulnerable and distinct. Similarly, her position as Yaakov’s child (בת) places her in an entirely different position than the son (בן) of the king, who in turn comes into conflict with the sons (בנים) of Yaakov.<fn>The differential in power among the characters is also emphasized by the title “נשיא הארץ” that describes Chamor, and by Shekhem’s offer to pay an exorbitant dowry. </fn> </li> |
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| + | <subcategory>"אות" and "מול" | ||
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| + | <li><b>Agreement</b> – The root "אות", to consent, appears only three times in the chapter, but only one more time in all of Tanakh, making its repeated appearance here significant. Each time it appears, it is in the context of circumcision, another guiding word in the unit.<fn>The root appears five times, making it over 100 times more prevalent here than elsewhere in Tanakh.</fn> The brothers condition their consent to the match on circumcision and Shekhem and Chamor than try to convince the city to agree.</li> | ||
| + | <li><b>Secondary Literature</b> – See <a href="Sin and Slaughter of Shekhem" data-aht="page">Sin and Slaughter of Shekhem</a> that the "agreement" is central to the story, especially as it is unclear whether it is in good faith or not. Did the brothers expect the people to agree, hoping to take advantage of their weakness? were they hoping they would not consent, allowing them to take Dina and leave? Or, perhpas were they sincere</li> | ||
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| − | <category>Character Titles | + | <category>Character Titles / Relational epithets |
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Version as of 01:43, 7 July 2023
Literary Devices – Bereshit 34
Structure
Parallels and Contrasts
Key Words
בן and בת (daughter and son)
- Daughters and sons – Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the words that appear most frequently in in Bereshit 34 are בת and בן, the former appearing 14 times and the latter 11 times. On the most basic level, these guiding words emphasize the family relationships in the story, which lead to the tension and violence of the narrative.
- Secondary Literature – See R. Alter, Genesis: Translation and Commentary, (New York, 1996):189 who goes further to suggest that the way the text employs these words highlights the superficial similarity of age and status among the characters in the story, which belies their vastly different positions in society. He notes that Dena’s identity as a "בת" is ostensibly similar to that of the "בנות הארץ" whom she seeks to meet, but her status as a stranger makes her vulnerable and distinct. Similarly, her position as Yaakov’s child (בת) places her in an entirely different position than the son (בן) of the king, who in turn comes into conflict with the sons (בנים) of Yaakov.1
"אות" and "מול"
- Agreement – The root "אות", to consent, appears only three times in the chapter, but only one more time in all of Tanakh, making its repeated appearance here significant. Each time it appears, it is in the context of circumcision, another guiding word in the unit.2 The brothers condition their consent to the match on circumcision and Shekhem and Chamor than try to convince the city to agree.
- Secondary Literature – See Sin and Slaughter of Shekhem that the "agreement" is central to the story, especially as it is unclear whether it is in good faith or not. Did the brothers expect the people to agree, hoping to take advantage of their weakness? were they hoping they would not consent, allowing them to take Dina and leave? Or, perhpas were they sincere
