http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/11
Here is the story of Lazarus from the Book of John. Read it, and find 3 literary devices in it. Next, find another story from the bible that you think a character from Crime and Punishment might like. Give us the gist of the story and explain why you think the character would like it. Who would read them the story and why? The reader can be a character from this novel or can be any person, real or fictional.
The Raising of Lazarus, like the other bible stories, is a literary masterpiece alluding to and symbolizing many things with the use of literary devices. Amplification is the embellishment of a sentence or statement by the addition of unnecessary but useful information. In verse 27, the sentence, "yes Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world" is amplified because the word Lord is expounded upon.
ReplyDeleteThe word "asleep" has two different denotations, one meaning sleep and one meaning death. The connotations associated with these words differ as well because sleep is associated with peace, rest, and renewal, where as death from earth is thought of as a morbid occurrence. The word asleep might have been chosen to mean death in this passage because it isan understatement for us who do not fully understand heaven, but it is the correct word to come from God because He understands that death from earth means life in Heaven.
Imagery is used in The Raising of Lazarus like in almost all other literature. The most dramatic piece of visual imagery occurs at the end, when "the dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth." The dark cave I pictured earlier slowly begins to fill with light when I read this verse.
Razumihin needs to hear the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). A master gave five talents to one man, two to another, and one to another, according to their ability. The men with five and two talents went out and doubled theirs, but the man with one dug a hole and hid the money in the ground. The master was proud of the men who worked to double their talents and angry with the man who was afraid to use his, and they experienced joy and punishment accordingly. Razumihin has been working extremely hard to take care of so many people, and he needs a relief knowing that he will be rewarded for his actions. I would like to read Razumihin this story because I have many reasons to praise him for his hard work. He is using his talents even when it is frustrating to patiently babysit Raskolnikov and set their family straight
Aww Grace your last paragraph is so cute! I agree that Razumihin is a very noble character in his selfless actions towards everyone. I know I've said this before, but he reminds me a lot of Mr. Lorry. I don't know why I keep making all of these connections to "A Tale of a Two Cities," but this one seems appropriate. Anyways, I think that reading this story to Razumihin would be a really kind gesture, and it may even give him more incentive to continue his good deeds and work even harder.
DeleteRazumihin certainly is a diligent and hardworking man. He takes care of Raskolnikov's family very well, and seems to expect no reward for it. I think that he may be trying to get closer to Dounia. He is in love with her, but believes he is unworthy of her. Taking care of her and her mother may be the only way he thinks he can be an active part of her life. No matter what the reason he had for taking care of them, he still goes above and beyond what is expected of him.
DeleteThe first literary device I noticed in this reading was that of imagery. John uses a great deal of mental depictions in his Gospel to help the reader better picture the story. When describing the tomb as Jesus approached it, he writes, "It was a cave, and a stone lay across it." This helps the reader visualize the burial place of Lazarus, and it also subtly reinforces the idea that Lazarus is truly dead, as he was shut in a cave. John also uses imagery when he depicts Lazarus coming out of the cave, explaining, "the dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth." His reason for doing this is to contrast the image of permanent death with the one of new life from resurrection.
ReplyDeleteA second literary device is denotation. This is seen whenever Jesus is speaking to His disciples and uses the word "sleep." Jesus is referring to an eternal sleep, or death, whereas the disciples took it to mean a casual slumber. The word holds two separate meanings, and I think that John included it to again bring up the concept of permanence. He wanted to reinforce the idea that Lazarus was truly dead, not merely "asleep."
A final literary device I noted was hyperbaton. This literary device deals with the rearranging of words in a sentence that could have been said another way, usually for the sake of emphasis. The opening line of this Gospel holds an example of this. It states: "Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha." John could have simply said "Lazarus was a sick man from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha." His reason for changing the arrangement of this sentence was most likely to emphasize the fact that Lazarus was very ill. Another example of hyperbaton is in the sentence "[But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” He could have simply said "God will give you whatever you ask of Him." But I think John wanted to put more emphasis on the fact that God will indeed provide for our every need.
I think that Marmeladov needs to hear the story of Paul, formerly Saul. Saul was a man who was known for persecuting Christians and basically letting God down in all sorts of ways. However, one day, he saw a bright light from heaven, and God told him to stop and be redeemed. And so he did. And his life was changed forever. I think that this story would be of great help to Marmeladov, and I hope it would inspire him to quit moping around about all of the mistakes he made in the past and move on with his life. I feel like Raskolnikov would be the one to read him this story, because he was the one who tried to help Marmeladov in the first place. Marmeladov really trusted Raskolnikov and I feel like he would take his advice. I realize this is a bit too late seeing as Marmeladov is dead now, but it's a nice thought.
Mary, I think the story of Paul/Saul would be a perfect fit for Marmeladov. Marmeladov knows deep down he needs to change. I think he is conflicted on how to change and if he can even possibly change. The story of Paul is a truly inspiring transformation story that would show Marmeladov that change is possible, and he can find redemption through God.
DeleteThis is a little late but the thought is great. If Raskolnikov would have told him the story er lied, he might not have died. I believe that Raskolnikov reading it would be good because maybe he can learn from it himself while helping Marmeladov. There are a few characters in this story that could use a dramatic transformation such as Saul's.
DeleteThe story of Lazarus rising from the dead is told with many literary devices present. One that stood out to me right away was understatement. Jesus says, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” Being dead is a far cry from being asleep, and raising someone from the dead is a far cry from waking someone up. Death is permanent but sleeping is a temporary state.
ReplyDeleteJesus also uses a paradox when he says, “Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” This is a paradox because the two states completely contradict themselves; in fact death and life are complete antonyms. It is hard to comprehend how you live on after you die, but from a Catholic standpoint we learn this is not a contradiction, but rather due to God’s plan. We are born with a soul that will live in eternal life with God after our death even though our physical bodies have met their demise.
Another literary device found in John chapter 11 is antithesis. Antithesis is used when Jesus says, “If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” This is an antithesis because the two sentences have contrasting meanings and are right next to each other. The two sentences use the same elements but have different outcomes to emphasize he is safe from the stoners because he is the light.
If I could give a character a bible story, I would gift Sonia the story of Mary Magdalene in Mark 16. Sonia would most likely benefit from Mark 16:9 when it says, “Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.” The idea of Mary Magdalene first came to my head because many people believe she was a prostitute although the Holy Bible never says anything about this. But if you dig in to what the bible does say, Mary was definitely very troubled by demons. What these demons exactly were is unknown, but a problem is a problem no matter what the severity. Sonia believes in Jesus despite her terrible situation, and would find empowerment in the fact Jesus appeared to a woman who he saved from demons following His resurrection.
That is a very dramatic understatement for us, but it is awesome because it is not for Jesus. Someone who is dead from earth is not dead unless they have a corrupt soul. Since they are not physically awake, we have a hard time realizing that they still live. This is a beautiful understatement because when you look into it, you can come to better understand the reality of heaven.
DeleteI feel like Sonia has read this Bible story before, and takes great comfort in it. Her faith is strong, and she reads the Bible on her own time. When she first discovered this story, she probably related very well to Mary Magdalene, and now reads the story often. This passage may be why her faith is as strong as it is. It gives her hope for the future, and shows that people in destitution can be saved just like anyone else.
DeleteLauren, I think it's interesting that you made the connection between Mary Magdalene and Sonia. I can see the similarities between their characters. I also agree with Ashley and think that she has probably heard the story before and this is why she is strong in her faith. She realizes that Mary Magdalene was forgiven for her sins and hopes that she can be too.
DeleteThe story of Lazarus contains many literary devices that help John convey his message of life. The first device that stood out to me was imagery. Throughout the story, John describes Jesus and the actions that surround him simply but clearly. He does not waste time on lengthy passages describing small details, but describes important events in a clear and concise way. This is so that the reader can form an image of the event quickly. He uses small but meaningful sentences such as "Jesus wept." While it only has two words, this sentence conveys a distinct image. It shows how much Jesus cares for Lazarus, and how upset He was about his passing. The entire story contains simple imagery like this.
ReplyDeleteThe next device I found was metaphor. This stood out to me when Jesus says, "If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." He uses this metaphor in response to the apostles' inquiries about the safety of returning to Judea. This second meaning of this passage refers not to physical safety, but spiritual safety. By walking in the day, the Light of God, it is easy to stay on the right path and do what is right. When one strays from the path, they lose the light, and eventually stumble and fall. Jesus must return to Judea no matter the physical risk, because it is spiritually right for Him to go.
The next device I found was irony. The story of Lazarus may not seem ironic in and of itself, but when it is put into context it is. In John's Gospel, the next story finds some witnesses telling the Pharisees what had happened, and they sentence Jesus to death. It is ironic that Jesus' precious gift of life leads to His own death.
I think Pulcheria Alexandrovna needs to hear the story of the Prodigal Son. She knows that her son is struggling in his life, and feels powerless to help him. Now he has severed all ties with the family, and she doesn't know if she'll ever see him again. The story of the Prodigal Son would give her hope. Just as the son returned to his father, so may Raskolnikov return to her. He may realize the error of his ways and find happiness with his family again. I think Razumihin should read this story to her. Since he knows Raskolnikov best, this story will have a greater influence on Pulcheria. In addition, he has already stepped into the role of caregiver and comforter for the family.
Ashley, that is a very interesting story to pick. It is strangely appropriate though. I wish I had thought of it, because I feel like it fits the story so much better. Also, I think it's very interesting that you chose Razumikhin to read the story. You argument makes sense, but I would think that Dunya's would read it, since she's her daughter.
DeleteOne device that is used not only in the story of Lazarus, but in the Bible as a whole is the use of metaphors. The actions that Jesus performs throughout the Bible are metaphors for other points that are trying to bring across. For example, Jesus uses the act of raising Lazarus from the dead as a metaphor for his ability of bringing new life. Usually the message of the metaphor is very easy to pick out. The actions of Jesus always have meaning behind them which allows for the metaphors to really stick out. The metaphor of the story of Lazarus is easily seen as Jesus's ability to bring others to new life.
ReplyDeleteAnother rhetorical device found in this story is imagery. It is sometimes hard to imagine the stories taking place, but the authors of the Gospels are able to use details to effectively allow the readers to imagine the story taking place. The story of Lazarus is effective in allowing the reader to visualize what is happening in the story. The Gospel writers also do a good job at explaining what is happening one step at a time as to not confuse the readers. They also use extensive details which allow for the story to be accurately told and the message to show.
Pathos is used in the Gospel to appeal to the emotions of the readers. One spot in this story specifically that touches emotions is when Jesus cries about Lazarus's death and the Jews say "see how he loved him". This personally drew up some emotion for me because it shows that Jesus was truly man and how caring he was. The fact that the Son of God is weeping over the loss of his friend is astounding to me. There are several other parts in this story alone that draw emotion out of the reader, such as when Jesus says stand up and walk. The Bible truly is a great story and has the ability to draw strong emotions. It tells the most amazing story of all which is that of our faith.
Another story that Raskolnikov should read is the story of Jesus casting the demons out of two men. This can be found in chapter 8 of the Gospel of Matthew. Raskolnikov should hear this story because he has his own demons after committing the crime. He was obviously also troubled before the crime and this would be a story that he could relate to. I think Dunia should read him this story because he obviously cares for her and she might be one of the only people that can reach him. I think sometimes a family intervention can help people a lot more than having friends try to help. Raskolnikov needs to recognize that he has a problem and I think the story can make him realize that he has his own demons and they can be healed.
Abbey, I think it is apparent that something is driving Roskolnikov absolutely crazy. Hey who knows, maybe it is demons and he just needs to have them casted out. But it seems like something has been haunting him ever since the murder of Aliona Ivanova. Probably it could be described as his conscience actually doing its job. No matter. This story would probably help him see the error of his ways, and maybe he would actually go seek forgiveness and become...semi normal.
DeleteThe first literary device I found was understatement. Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus was asleep. So you'd think this whole story wouldn't be a big deal. Turns out, Lazarus is asleep forever...because he's dead. This understating of his ailment may foreshadow his eventual rising, almost like he was just sleeping.
ReplyDeleteThe next apparent literary device was imagery. Short and simple phrases are used, but they convey so much about the environment. The simplicity of the story also ensures that there is no chance for confusion on the reader's part, because the whole story is a very simple read.
The final device was the use of foreshadowing. This story of Lazarus being resurrected foreshadows Jesus eventually rising from the dead to save us all. Jesus showed us that He has the power to bring people back to life. So why can't he bring Himself back? It seems certainly like that is a probable conclusion.
I feel like a story that fits really well into this novel is Judas's betrayal of Jesus and his subsequent suicide. Basically, Judas meets with the local religious leaders, and he promises to bring them Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. The Last Supper happens, and Jesus figures out that Judas is going to betray him. He goes to pray in the garden, and Judas brings the police to arrest Jesus. Judas feels terrible about what he did, so he gives the religious leaders the silver back and then he goes out and hangs himself. I feel like Porfiry would read this story to Roskolnikov. Porfiry is locked in a cat and mouse game with Roskolnikov, and this story might set Roskolnikov over the edge, as it will show doing the wrong thing eventually catches up to you. It might also compel Roakolnikov to commit suicide.
Gizzy, that is such an interesting story to pick. Both Raskolnikov and Judas clearly made grave mistakes in their lives that have caused a great upheaval. I think it's interesting that you'd have Porfiry read that story to Raskolnikov. It certainly would help in his interrogation, because there is a good chance Raskolnikov (being a somewhat religious person) would be unsettled by the tale of Judas, and would possibly confess to the murders.
DeleteAbbey, I agree that Raskolnikov has demons stuck inside him that need defenestrated. He needs a higher power to clean his soul. There are common interpretations that the demons Jesus dispels in the bible are modern day mental illnesses. If this is so, Raskolnikov can really relate to these men.
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