Lesson 1: Backgrounder
What's the big picture? What are the poetic books of the Bible, and why are they "poetic"?
Poetry in the Bible--No Rhyming Couplets Here!
Poetry in the Bible? Well, if you are thinking of some airy-fairy rhyming couplet greeting card, you have come to the wrong place. Hebrew poetry makes use of a concept called PARALLELISM. Just like parallel lines in math ========, parallel lines in poetry are two lines side by side that are related to each other. How are they related?
SYNONYMOUS PARALLELISM
A SYNONYM is a word that means roughly the same as another word, like "huge" and "big". Synonymous parallelism occurs when a poet writes two lines side by side that are worded differently, but which mean about the same. If I said,
His voice was soft, His tongue was pleasing to the ear...
these two lines would have synonymous parallelism.
For an excellent Biblical example, look at the one in the Biblically-Inept book at the top of page 72. Examples can be found there for the next two types as well.
ANTITHETICAL PARALLELISM:
This involves having two lines which have the same meaning because of opposites:
It is big. It is not small.
Many of these exist in the book of Proverbs, but for a good example, take out your favorite Bible (NIV, Life Application Bible, or the ever-popular King James Version, perhaps?) and look up Proverbs 11:17.
In my poetry book, Cross Examinations, one of the poems included is "Terrorizing Terrorists." To write this poem, my shortest ever, I took advantage of antithetical parallelism:
TERRORIZING TERRORISTS
It's simple, really--give them something to live for, Instead of something to die against!
Those two lines say a lot, don't they? When people have hope through Jesus, they have a reason to live. Love instead of hate--that's antithetical!
SYNTHETIC PARALLELISM
Building on what you know, and explaining and using your knowledge involves SYNTHESIS. Synthetic parallelism does just that--it involves giving examples, explaining, and fleshing out ideas so that the reader may better understand what it is that you're writing about.
If I said,
I will study hard and make some sacrifices, for success today will lead to great rewards tomorrow.
then this is synthetic parallelism. The second line here gives a reason for why I would make the sacrifice.
SO WHERE'S THE POETRY IN THE BIBLE?
The five poetic books of the Bible are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs (Song of Solomon). In this course, we'll be examining the content of these five books of the Bible, but we'll also be taking time to notice the poetry and the striking imagery that can be found there as well.
Along the way, I'll give you exercises to try, in an attempt to have you write some beautiful poetry as well. I'll even let you know about a few markets where you might sell it...
Join me inside for a look at the poetic books of the Bible, and...
GET POETIC!
