Biblical Allusion Project Revised 31a31

Biblical Allusion Project Who? You with a group, and you on your own. What? A project that is intended to boost your familiarity with well-known and oft-referenced stories from the Bible, one of the cores of our culture and cultures across the world. When? The due dates are staggered. Please make sure you check the calendar and know when your group is responsible for their presentations. Where? Here. Duh. Why? You will encounter allusions to famous Biblical characters and stories and lessons everywhere you go. Understanding these allusions can add an extra layer of meaning to a piece of writing or art, or just make a film or TV show a little more enjoyable. Everyone likes to be “in” on things, and this project will help you do that. Whether the Bible is a core part of your upbringing/religion is not relevant to this project—the fact is that the Bible contains many of the original stories that dictate art and literature. How? Like this: 

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Step 1: o o o

Your group will be given a section of the Bible for which you will be held responsible. It is your responsibility to access a Bible, either a physical version or an online version. Your group can all read the whole section, or you can split it up and report back to each other. If you are given an entire book (or several), you can focus on the allusions themselves, but make SURE you are getting the full picture. Use your judgment. Step 2: As a group, you will split up the required allusion presentations (detailed on the back of this paper). It may seem easier to just look up the allusion rather than reading for real, but there is immense value in a) reading it in the language which was intended, and b) understanding the context of what happens before, after, and as a result of your character/event. Step 3: On the assigned date, you will present your section of the bible and your allusions to the class using the format detailed on the back of this page.

Creation Adam and Eve Cain and Abel Garden of Eden Mary The Three Magi

Genesis 1

Genesis 2 Noah Ark Esau and Jacob Lot and Lot’s Wife Methuselah Sodom and Gomorrah

Matthew, Luke, and Job Twelve Apostles Good Samaritan Herod Job John the Baptist Judas/Kiss of Death/Thirty Pieces of Silver Lazarus Mary Magdalene Peter Pontius Pilate

Mixed Bag Elijah Isaiah Jezebel Jonah Samson and Delilah Paul Valley of the Shadow of Death Lucifer Prodigal Son Tower of Babel Solomon

Presentation Format

Exodus and Samuel Absalom Bathsheba David Exodus Manna Moses Parting of the Red Sea Burning Bush Ten Plagues General Knowledge Council of Nicea Four Horsemen Gabriel Jacob’s Ladder Joseph of Arimathea Last Supper Sermon on the Mount Swineherd Ascension Crucifixion Resurrection

Preparation: 1. Read the age(s) associated with your allusion(s). 2. On one side of a notecard, condense those age(s) into a manageable summary (5-7 sentences), being sure to include any well-known phrases. 3. Write an original sentence using your allusion in an authentic way and making sure you demonstrate your understanding of its implications. Need help? Consider the “big idea” of your conclusion—is it rebirth? Forgiveness? Betrayal? Use those big ideas to determine how to use your allusion.  Example of an authentic allusion: “May the force be with you,” the physics teacher told her students, making a pun about the experiment with mass and velocity. OR, Ms. Honore’s Achilles’ heel is her tendency to procrastinate—it always gets her in the end.  Non-example of an authentic allusion: Jose alluded to the Bible by saying, “You are a Judas.” OR, She was a Jezebel. 4. On the other side of the notecard, draw a simple picture that represents your allusion. Day of Presentation 1. You will go to the front of the classroom and present your allusion(s) summary and sentence. As you present, your classmates will take notes on what you say on their own notecards. 2. Then you will draw your picture on the whiteboard for your classmates to copy onto their notecards. 3. Then you will take a bow and take a seat.  Presentation Dates Genesis 1

Genesis 2

E and S

M, L, and J

Mixed Bag

General Knowledge