Allegory in Joseph and Aseneth : three studies of narrative and exegesis
The present work considers the novel of Joseph and Aseneth (J & A) as an allegorical text which was transmitted in various cultural environments, potentially from the poly-cultural background of Hellenistic Judaism to the time of the novel's extant manuscripts in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. While positing that J & A was conceived as a versatile text around the time of the rise of the ancient Greek novel, the thesis highlights the sophisticated literary features of this religious text. In fact, the imagery of J & A is loaded with further significance, touching upon mystical themes which can be compared with pagan testimonies of arcane lore and mysteries. Moreover, typical scenes in J & A are devised by means of complex rhetorical strategies, which contributed to the addition of further senses to the story. Indeed, the allegorical discourse which can be detected in J & A conferred to the novel a plain narrative surface, while leaving a deeper significance for its readers and interpreters to decode. In this respect, J & A is brought closer to Classical texts such as the ancient novels and Homeric literature, because its narrative allowed subsequent interpretations and even adaptations of the story in
Mussio, Eva
BL Religion ; PA Classical philology
Allegory in Joseph and Aseneth : three studies of narrative and exegesis. The present work considers the novel of Joseph and Aseneth (J & A) as an allegorical text which was transmitted in various cultural environments, potentially from the poly-cultural background of Hellenistic Judaism to the time of the novel's extant manuscripts in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. While positing that J & A was conceived as a versatile text around the time of the rise of the ancient Greek novel, the thesis highlights the sophisticated literary features of this religious text. In fact, the imagery of J & A is loaded with further significance, touching upon mystical themes which can be compared with pagan testimonies of arcane lore and mysteries. Moreover, typical scenes in J & A are devised by means of complex rhetorical strategies, which contributed to the addition of further senses to the story. Indeed, the allegorical discourse which can be detected in J & A conferred to the novel a plain narrative surface, while leaving a deeper significance for its readers and interpreters to decode. In this respect, J & A is brought closer to Classical texts such as the ancient novels and Homeric literature, because its narrative allowed subsequent interpretations and even adaptations of the story in
joseph_aseneth study narrative exegesis present_work considers novel joseph_aseneth text transmit various cultural_environment potentially cultural_background hellenistic judaism time novel extant manuscript middle ages renaissance posit conceive versatile text around_time rise ancient_greek novel highlight sophisticate literary feature religious text fact imagery load significance touch_upon mystical theme compare pagan testimony lore mystery moreover typical scene devise mean complex rhetorical_strategy contribute addition sens story indeed discourse detect confer novel plain narrative surface leave deep significance reader interpreter decode respect bring close classical_text ancient novel homeric literature narrative allow subsequent interpretation even adaptation story