THEO2011: LITERATURE & THEOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

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• To examine a range of important Old Testament texts and genres and their relationship with the historical and cultural background.
• To examine the theological and religious ideas of OT literature within their original context.
• To discuss the main historical and literary approaches to OT literature.
• To build on any knowledge of the subject area acquired at level 1, to equip students with skills and knowledge for further study of this subject area at level 3, and to prepare students for the skills and knowledge needed to undertake a dissertation in the final year.

• Beginning with issues of literacy and literature in an ancient context, the module will then examine legal and historical texts, and the principal religious ideas which are expressed in them. The significance of these ideas, and of more general cultural and ideological issues, will then be examined in relation to the wisdom and prophetic literature. The module will finish with a discussion of special topics in the history and culture of Israel.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• A knowledge and critical understanding of the well-established principles of study and main methods of enquiry in Old Testament studies, along with an understanding of the way in which those principles have developed, and an ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches.
• A knowledge and critical understanding of the principle literary genres found in the Old Testament, and of the problems involved in relating the literature to the historical context.

Subject-specific Skills:

Key Skills:

• Skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.

• Lectures convey information and exemplify an approach to the subject-matter, enabling students to develop a clear understanding of the subject and to improve their skills in listening and in evaluating information.
• Through small-group discussion, tutorials provide feedback on student work and the opportunity to discuss specific issues in detail, enhancing student knowledge and writing skills.
• Summative essays develop subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.
• Examinations assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the structured presentation of information in written form under time constraints.

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