Hebrew IV: Advanced Topics in Hebrew Literature (316-0-1)

Instructors

Hanna Tzuker Seltzer
847/467-5684
Crowe 5-159

Meeting Info

Kresge 4531 MENA Seminar Rm: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

Many define the Hebrew Bible as the best literature ever written. Indeed, the Hebrew Bible inspired numerous canonical novels and poems, not to mention paintings and sculptures, in Western culture. In the case of Hebrew literature, the connection to the Hebrew Bible is even more binding, as the biblical texts informed and inspired Zionist ideology and the revival of Hebrew as a modern language. In this class we will read a selection of biblical stories in their original language, biblical Hebrew, a reading which will enable us to see the immense influence of biblical Hebrew on Modern Hebrew language. We will then read Contemporary Hebrew poems that are based on the stories we have read. We will analyze both the biblical stories, the Hebrew poems, and the connections between them. The poems we will read in class are interpretations of the biblical stories; both the biblical texts and the modern poems are in Hebrew, but beyond the grammatical and periodical difference between the texts and the poems, the poems can be political, ideological, social, or personal critique of - or sometimes a dialogue with - the biblical story. All course materials will be in Hebrew, as well as class discussions.

This class is intended for students who are either heritage speakers of Hebrew or are in a very advanced level of Hebrew. The class level is equal to Hebrew fourth year. For questions about the class, please contact Prof. Hanna Tzuker Seltzer hanna.seltzer@northwestern.edu

Registration Requirements

Hebrew 216-3 or consent of the instructor.

Learning Objectives

-Students will experience and practice reading biblical Hebrew by reading texts from the Hebrew Bible in their original language
-Students will learn basic linguistic principles of biblical Hebrew
-Students will be familiarized with some of the canonical stories in the Hebrew Bible such as the Binding of Isaac, rivalry between siblings: Esau and Jacob; Rachel and Lea, the story of Joseph and his brothers, and more
-Students will learn how to perform "Close Reading", which is a literary analysis based on careful reading of the text in question, and they will practice it through their analysis of the biblical stories and the contemporary poems we will read
-Students will read modern Hebrew poems of various poets in their original language and will learn to notice embedded biblical expressions in the modern poems, the resemblance between modern Hebrew and biblical Hebrew, and the extent to which the biblical Hebrew is foundational to modern Hebrew
-Students will be able to note the influence and relevance of biblical stories and expressions on Israeli cultural sphere and society in general and on modern Hebrew language in particular
Students will acquire tools for literary analysis both in relation to the biblical stories and in relation to contemporary poems, such as recognizing the speaker/narrator (or lack thereof) and addressee, identifying literary means and their contribution to the text's meaning, noticing structures and type scenes (in the biblical stories)
-Students will develop their critical reading and will practice noticing sarcasm, rhetorical usage of words and expressions, and political and social criticism (be it subtle or direct) in the text

Teaching Method

Classes will be in the form of class discussions, as well as shared learning. We will read together the biblical stories and learn how to decipher the unique grammatical structures of the Hebrew Bible and the stylistics and literary techniques of the biblical narrator. We will read contemporary Hebrew poems and look for the intertextual connections between the biblical texts and the modern poems we read. Students will work frequently in pairs and groups to practice the reading and deep understanding of biblical texts as well as modern Hebrew poems. Students will also examine the intertextuality and allusions the contemporary poems have in relation to the biblical texts and how these allusions profoundly enrich the poems' meaning.

Evaluation Method

During the course there will be regular homework assignments to practice what we learned in class and to prepare for following classes. There will be class presentations throughout the course, and a final presentation in lieu of a final exam.

Class Materials (Required)

There is no need to purchase any specific textbooks for this class; class materials will be distributed by the instructor or will appear on the class Canvas site as PDFs.

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: REASON: Pre-registration is not allowed for this class. Please try again during regular registration.