Presuppositions – Experiments in Criticism

The Educated Imagination: A Covenantal Review

I’ve just finished rereading Northrop Frye’s 1962 lecture series The Educated Imagination. Because Frye is such a clear writer and a synthesizing thinker, his work has given me a more holistic vision of covenantal literature would look like, though the actual content of his work is at odds with that vision. Here’s where I wouldContinue reading “The Educated Imagination: A Covenantal Review”

Biblical Presuppositions: The Covenant

Stories matter to God. He is the grand storyteller. Reality itself is His story. Because we are made in God’s image, people tell stories too. Because stories matter, literature matters. When God revealed himself to us, he didn’t just give us theological treatises, a book of collected sermons. Covenants are personal agreements that the transcendentContinue reading “Biblical Presuppositions: The Covenant”

BIBLICAL PRESUPPOSITION: Symbolism Matters

I’m reading through James Jordan’s excellent study Through New Eyes. Jordan begins the book by stressing the importance of symbolism. Everything, he argues from scripture, symbolizes God. Humanity, the Word, and Sacraments are special symbols, but the entire creation testifies to the God who made it. This leads to Jordan’s assertion that ESSENCE precedes EXISTENCE.Continue reading “BIBLICAL PRESUPPOSITION: Symbolism Matters”

Biblical Presuppositions: Transcendence

I began working through Ray Sutton’s That You May Prosper today. Sutton articulates the biblical vision of the covenant, the way which God has chosen to interact with humanity. The covenant has five points: Transcendence, Hierarchy, Ethics, Sanctions, and Succession. I am building a Shakespeare e-course around these five points and will be working withContinue reading “Biblical Presuppositions: Transcendence”

Biblical Presuppositions: The Imagination

A biblical view of literature begins with a proper view of God and man. I’ve been mulling over the ramifications of the doctrine of Creation for literary study, but I will sketch that out next week. While reviewing John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, I was struck by the following passages.