Theological Anthropology and the Great Literary Genres
Understanding the Human Story
Abstract
The storytelling impulse lies very deep within human cultures; indeed, it is fundamental to the very concept of human culture itself. What, then, is humankind, according to the great story types of tragedy, epic, and comedy? What do each of these genres say about us, and what transcends us? Building on critical discussions of the great genres of the Western literary tradition, Michael P. Jensen argues that each of these genres contains a “theo-anthropology”—a theological understanding of the human creature. He then shows how questions of identity, purpose, and destiny are addressed within each genre, concluding that human existence is a “storied nature” shaped by the various literary forms that have fostered human cultural imagination. These genres provide crucial keys to vital anthropological and theological questions when put in conversation with Christian theology; as Jensen shows, the Christian story, “the gospel,” shares many observations about the human condition with the great genres, but offers a different “sense of ending.”
Schlagworte
comedy culture story theological anthropology epic literary criticism literature and theology theology tragedy genre narrative- i–vi Preface i–vi
- 67–102 4 Epic 67–102
- 103–138 5 Comedy 103–138
- 139–180 6 Tragedy 139–180
- 181–186 7 Gospel 181–186
- 187–194 Bibliography 187–194
- 195–198 Name Index 195–198
- 199–200 Scripture Index 199–200
- 201–204 Subject Index 201–204
- 205–205 About the Author 205–205