Informed by your literary analysis of the book of Esther, answer the following questions:
- Why do stories like Esther’s attract us? What do stories offer us/do for us?
- What did/do novels like that of Esther in the Hebrew Scriptures offer Jewish communities of the Diaspora?
- How can biblical novels like Esther (or Judith, Tobit, Ruth, and Jonah) inform and inspire people/communities of faith today?
- Describe your experience of analyzing the book of Esther.
- Another literary genre that would appeal for centuries for Jews and Christians is that of the ‘apocalyptic’ (Daniel in the OT is the classic example, but also extra-biblical books such as Enoch). After reading “Daniel and Diaspora” by Daniel Smith-Christopher (https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/the-book-of-daniel-in-the-diaspora/) describe the function/purpose of an apocalypse like this. What did apocalypses offer? What was/is the political message of apocalypses for Jewish and Christian communities? (Refer to Conway and Carr on the apocalyptic.)
Submission Instructions:
- Your initial post should be at least 250-300 words for each discussion post, formatted and cited in the current APA style.
- Provide support for your work from at least two academic sources less than five years old.
