Course Catalogue

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This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of the book of Genesis, one of the most influential texts in western culture. Using a variety of approaches, students will examine Genesis in terms of its ideologies, forms and genres, history of interpretation, theological impact, and cultural afterlives. Some of the texts will be read in biblical Hebrew.

1x2hr seminar; 1x1hr language tutorial per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in TRS and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students who have a grade of D3 or above in either TRS1005 or TRS4061 and fulfil requirements for Honours entry into Theology and Religious Studies, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation with a similar qualification in Hebrew. 

TRS3026 Genesis Non Honours

TRS4062 Genesis

None

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay (2000 words) - 50%

■ Translation and comment (1500 words) - 40%

■ Presentation of 5 minutes - 10%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ There is no alternative to the translation, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ Recorded presentation as an alternative to the presentation

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ explore a variety of readings of Genesis from the ancient world to the present day;

■ engage critically with a variety of methodologies of biblical interpretation

■ deepen understanding of biblical narrative, including close reading of some texts in biblical Hebrew;

■ foster awareness of the different forms, genres, theologies and literary devices found in Genesis;

■ investigate creatively the cultural afterlives of some of the narratives found in Genesis.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ offer a general account of the history of the interpretation of the book of Genesis;

■ read and understand key primary and secondary texts and present a clearly argued analysis of the positions taken in these texts;

■ identify key methods and rigorously analyse them in their cultural and historical contexts;

■ offer a critical and in-depth analysis of a variety of interpretive approaches to biblical texts;

■ reflect critically and comparatively about ideologies in biblical texts and in their afterlives;

■ present complex arguments in written and oral form;

■ translate and comment on relevant Hebrew texts.