Reduced laughter
Subtitle: seriocomic features and their functions in the Book of Kings
By: by Helen Paynter
Series: Biblical interpretation series -- volume 142; Biblical interpretation series -- v. 142.
Publisher: Brill
Published: 2016
Place of publication: Leiden; Boston
Language: mul
Number of pages: 242
ISBN-13: 9789004322349; 9789004322363
Subjects: Bible; Humor; Criticism, interpretation; Satire; Wit and humor in the Bible; Ironie
Description: In this book Helen Paynter offers a radical re-evalution of the central section of Kings. Reading with attention to the literary devices of carnivalization and mirroring, she demonstrates that it contains a florid satire on kings, prophets and nations. Building on the work of humorists, literary critics and biblical scholars, the author constructs diagnostic criteria for carnivalization (seriocomedy), and identifies an abundance of these features within the Elijah/Elisha and Aram narratives, showing how literary mirroring further enhances their satirical effect. This book will be of particular interest to students and scholars concerned with the Hebrew Bible as literature but will be valued by those who favour more historical approaches for its insights into the Hebrew text. (Publisher).
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 210-226) and indexes.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Some unanswered questions in the book of Kings; title: Seriocomic readings and the mise-en-abyme: useful heuristics for biblical criticism?; title: An investigation into the seriocomic elements at the heart of Kings; title: Anti-prophetic rhetoric; title: The command-prophecy formula; title: Satire against kings and nations; title: Conclusion.