Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Biblical References in Movies and Literature

Literary Tools

These ideas are inspired by How To Read Literature Like A Professor.
I am going to try and cover a different tool each day.


VI. Biblical references

      1. gardens

      2. serpents

      3. plagues

      4. floods

      5. rainbows

      6. parting waters

      7. loaves and fishes

      8. fish of all kind

      9. forty days, seven days, three days

      10. betrayal

      11. denial

      12. slavery and escape

      13. fatted calves

      14. milk and honey

      15. miraculous healing

      16. baptisms


While many movies and stories are pulled directly from the Bible, many just use symbols, places, or events to refer you back to the Bible for a deeper understanding. Also, the Bible is so integrated in our cultural awareness that many authors use it subconsciously. The movie Big Fish, really surprised me with how many Biblical references it used. The Matrix is also another movie is full of Biblical references from beginning to end. One of my older students surprised me with the author Chuck Palahniuk. Chuck is dealing with some very twisted characters and Biblical themes. It makes for an interesting, if disturbing, experience.

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