Death and Closure in Biblical Narrative: (7 Studies in Biblical Literature)

Inherent in every story is a view of death that reflects the human struggle of ending well, a Freudian thanatos inscribed within narrative. As a story draws to a close, the view of death found within the structure of the story's narrative will influence the ending that is produced. To examine the view of death and the closing strategies employed within a narrative, this study proposes a literary category called narrative mortality. Narrative mortality compares the degree of finality given to death with the amount of closure the reader experiences within the narrative. The narrative mortality of three differing biblical stories are studied within this work: The Gospel of John, the Book of Job, and the Book of Jonah. Each story employs a differing rhetorical strategy that reflects its own unique view of death and narrative closure.

About the Author :
The Author: Walter B. Crouch is Assistant Professor of Religion at Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tennessee. He received his Ph.D. in religion from Baylor University, and taught biblical languages there at the George W. Truett Seminary. He is widely published in journals and magazines and has professionally presented numerous papers on the relationship of death and the narrative structures of biblical story.

Review :
Walter Crouch dares to explore the subtleties of the Bible's perspectives on the most basic human questions - life and death. The result is an engaging exploration of literary structures and theological affirmations that can help each of us come to terms with our mortality and gain a fresh appreciation for the promise of human life lived in response to God's grace. (Alan Culpepper, Dean, The McAffee School of Theology, Mercer University) Literary studies and the use of literary theory abound in biblical studies today. This volume makes a creative contribution to such studies with attention to both literary theory and biblical texts. Walter Crouch cleverly traces the connections, in biblical texts, between literary closings and closings of life. His interpretive insights on Job, Jonah, and John are important in their own right. This volume is well worth the read and it is an important addition for libraries because it reflects the current state of literary studies in biblical scholarship. (W. H. Bellinger, Jr., Professor/Director, Graduate Studies in Religion, Baylor University, Waco, TX)