Narrative strategies in the book of Ecclesiastes
The working premise of this thesis is that the book of Ecclesiastes can be studied with confidence as a narrative text for the purpose of analysis. The first part, then, seeks to flesh out those qualities of the text that are narrative qualities: the presence of events, first-person narration (autobiography in particular), plot and motif. The second part explores the strategy of the frame narrator, who provides a structure that both limits and opens up possibilities for readers. That narrator is in a position of tension in that on the one hand he validates Qoheleth's radicalism by appearing to find his words worth relating. Even words of praise are offered. On the other hand, from the summary of the epilogue, I argue at length, it is clear that the frame narrator did not agree with Qoheleth's approach to wisdom, God and tradition, bound as they were to his wholly different epistemology. Further, the strategy of framing occurs on many levels, and one of its consequences is the bringing into question of the reader's relation to the framed material, as well as the relation of the framer to the one framed. The interpretive possibilities arising from the tension in these narratorial relationships are explored in
Christianson, Eric S.
Philosophy
Narrative strategies in the book of Ecclesiastes. The working premise of this thesis is that the book of Ecclesiastes can be studied with confidence as a narrative text for the purpose of analysis. The first part, then, seeks to flesh out those qualities of the text that are narrative qualities: the presence of events, first-person narration (autobiography in particular), plot and motif. The second part explores the strategy of the frame narrator, who provides a structure that both limits and opens up possibilities for readers. That narrator is in a position of tension in that on the one hand he validates Qoheleth's radicalism by appearing to find his words worth relating. Even words of praise are offered. On the other hand, from the summary of the epilogue, I argue at length, it is clear that the frame narrator did not agree with Qoheleth's approach to wisdom, God and tradition, bound as they were to his wholly different epistemology. Further, the strategy of framing occurs on many levels, and one of its consequences is the bringing into question of the reader's relation to the framed material, as well as the relation of the framer to the one framed. The interpretive possibilities arising from the tension in these narratorial relationships are explored in
narrative strategy book work premise book study confidence narrative_text purpose analysis first_part seek flesh quality text narrative quality presence event first_person narration autobiography particular plot motif second_part explore strategy frame narrator provide structure limit open_possibility reader narrator position tension one_hand validate qoheleth radicalism appear word worth relate even word praise offer hand summary epilogue argue length clear frame narrator agree qoheleth wisdom god tradition bind wholly different epistemology strategy frame occurs many level one_consequence bring_question reader relation frame material well relation framed interpretive possibility arise tension relationship explore