What good is theory if it is not teachable? If it does not open doors and raise new questions? The NAPH – National Association of Professors of Hebrew - holds its annual meeting in conjunction with that of SBL. I was invited to submit a paper proposal for a session entitled “Poetry and Pedagogy” to take place at this year’s meeting in New Orleans. With his usual breathtaking speed, Zev Garber has already emailed acceptance. Here is the title and abstract:
Theoretical Frameworks Useful in
the Teaching of Ancient Hebrew Poetry
In the context of teaching the poetic texts
of the Hebrew Bible, it helps to work with transparent definitions of poetry
and features thereof. Things like meter, rhythm, and the distinction between
the two as clarified by Viktor Maksimovich Zhirmunsky are not difficult to
teach if examples are given first from native language verse, biblical verse in
translation, and finally, Hebrew itself, the ultimate goal. Once again, when it
comes to parallelism, the chief trope of ancient Hebrew poetry, it helps to introduce
the phenomenon of “recurrence” according to the model of Roman Jakobson as
tweaked by P. J. Nel with examples from native language poetry, before going on
to examine its characteristic realization in ancient Hebrew poetry. The notion
of semantic transfers via metaphorical frames of reference is also of great
utility. This paper will demonstrate that the theory of metaphor advanced by
Benjamin Harshav is a cogent point of departure for the purpose of identifying
metaphorical planes in Hebrew poetry. Worked examples: Isaiah 1:2-6; Isaiah 40:1-11,
and Job 28.
On the incredibly slim chance that I'll be at SBL...this paper is definitely one I would want to hear.
Posted by: Mike Aubrey | March 01, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Hello John,
I don't think I will be able to make it to SBL this upcoming year (low on $$$), but I would love to read a copy of your paper, if that would be possible. It sounds fascinating!
Posted by: Adam Couturier | March 01, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Mike and Adam,
The paper will appear on this blog before New Orleans. Shards of the paper, as it were, already exist in the form of posts.
I'm wondering if it would be helpful to students like you if I arranged for room and board with locals in New Orleans. I always do that for myself.
It keeps the costs down and plus, you acquire new friends in the process, if you behave yourself.
Posted by: JohnFH | March 01, 2009 at 05:44 PM
Well, I already have an offer for a roommate on the change that I can go - who would cover the cost problem there. The real challenge is air fare.
Posted by: Mike Aubrey | March 01, 2009 at 10:32 PM
That is a great offer, John. Sadly I am not sure if I will able to cover air fare, as well. It is an odd catch 22. If I want the cheapest SBL rate I need to order soon, but I haven;t been able to find a cheap flight (most of the travel sites post there deals a couple months in advance). But if I can purchase a cheap ticket, I may take you up on that offer. I like meeting new people.
Posted by: Adam Couturier | March 05, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Hi Adam,
You remind me of the days when I was a grad student and would give plasma in order to raise money for books and conferences. I came home one afternoon with my shirt all bloodied because the nurse had had trouble finding a vein.
Further trips to the plasma center were henceforth vetoed by a higher power (my wife).
Another way I raised money was working for a fly-by-night moving company in Chicago one school year. My wife was a student at McCormick, on scholarship, and took courses across the cluster, from Donald Dayton, for example, and from Rosemary Radford Reuther. That was a hoot. It's a good thing I have a strong back. We were paid $100 in cash at the end of each day, which seemed like a lot of money at the time.
Sorry, all this is off-topic. I hope you find some way to make it to New Orleans nonetheless.
Posted by: JohnFH | March 06, 2009 at 09:07 AM