I know many of you are not religious. Some of you have never been to church or heard a bible story. Some of you aren't even Christian. It doesn't matter. Most of the great writers of ENGLISH were and they lived in times where religion was an important part of their education. That means there will be lots of references to biblical stories and characters. It doesn't matter if you believe--it is just something that will help you understand the works better. Here are some websites with important bible stories.
10 commandments and other pacts, treaties, or promises.
satan
temptation
sacrifice
communion
forgiveness
revenge
and more
So where is the bible in your reading? A line of poetry? A title? A passage in the novel? A Character's name? Record your findings and the deeper resonance gained by these references and allusuions.
Work you are reading
Relevant biblical passage and how it is presented in the book
The effect of this allusion on the meaning or depth of the work
Inferno by Dante Alighieri
Jeremiah v.6
When Dante is lost within "a dark forest" representing a loss of faith from god, he encounters three wild beasts: the leopard, lion, and she-wolf. These animals are symbolic of the three divisions within Hell, which are concupiscence, violence, and fraud respectively. This inclusion increased the depth of the work by foreshadowing the sins Dante must pass through, as well as sets the theme for the novel, the confrontation of mankind's sin.
Throughout the book, three major biblical themes--revenge, sacrifice, and forgiveness--are implied. Mrs. Rochester seeks revenge upon Mr. Rochester for keeping her locked away and attempting to marry Jane; Mrs. Reed seeks revenge on Jane for her outspoken nature by sending her to boarding school and refusing to tell her that her uncle sought for her. Sacrifice is also prevalent--upon entering Lowood, Jane sacrifices nearly everything under the harsh regime of Mr. Brocklehurst. Mr. Rochester also sacrifices his sight and a hand in order to attempt to save Mrs. Rochester during the fire that destroys his manor. Lastly, forgiveness is prominent throughout, especially with Jane. She forgives both Mr. Rochester for his deceit and Mrs. Reed for her cruelty. Jane's story parallels that of many biblical stories, where figures seek revenge (Cain and Abel), make sacrifices (Christ's crucifixion), or forgive (The Prodigal Son).
http://crain.english.missouriwestern.edu/bible_as_literature/contents.htm
http://www.essex1.com/people/paul/bible.html
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/bl-quiz.html
This site allows yu to search if you think you see a reference but want to check: http://www.biblegateway.com/
And here you can listen to the bible: http://www.audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
Some ideas you may recognize as biblical
So where is the bible in your reading? A line of poetry? A title? A passage in the novel? A Character's name? Record your findings and the deeper resonance gained by these references and allusuions.
Bible Answers