Parables, Proverbs and Psalms

Parables A parable is a brief narrative that teaches a moral or a lesson about life. Parables rely on the use of allegory—a story in which the characters, settings, and events stand for abstract or moral concepts. Because the characters, settings and events in t these narratives have a deeper meaning, symbolism is a frequent component of parables.

Parables Allegories can be read on one level for their literal meaning and on another for their symbolic meaning. Parable comes from a Greek word meaning “comparison,” indicating that the surface details in these brief stories can be compared to underlying abstract concepts.

Proverbs A proverb is a concise saying that expresses a common human truth or experience. Proverbs are usually intended to convey accumulated cultural wisdom and experience, advising people about common human failings, such as greed, stupidity, procrastination, and gullibility.

Proverbs Proverbs are often witty and full of wordplay, incorporating such literary elements as: Metaphor (“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”) Alliteration (“He who laughs last laughs best”) Parallelism (“Where there’s a will, there’s a way”) Rhyme (“When the cat’s away, the mice will play”).

Psalms The Book of Psalms, which appears in the section of the Hebrew Bible called Writings, contains 150 poems that were combined into a single collection around the fourth century B.C. The origin of the word psalm, from the Greek word psalmos (meaning “a plucking of strings”) implies that the psalms were sung to musical accompaniment Psalms are generally songs of praise and adoration for God or something in God’s creation.

Literary Device: EPITHET An epithet is a term used to characterize a person or object. These capture the most known, admired, or despised quality about this person or object Epithets often become the ‘nickname’ of this person or object Epithets can occur either directly before or directly after the name of the person or object For example: Catherine the Great Swift-footed Achilles

Literary Device: PARALLELISM Parallelism is the repetition of words, phrases, or sentences that have the same grammatical structure or restate or contrast an idea This is also called parallel structure. An example would be: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The psalms use parallelism to create a sense of balance and order.

Literary Devices Cont. Paradox: Two truths that contradict one another Ex: When I am weak, then I am strong. Allusion: References to other places, people, literature, etc. seen in writing Ex. The young woman felt like Leah, in love with a man who would not love her back.

Other Literary Devices: Review Alliteration: Use of the same consonant sound at the beginning of two or more words Rhyme: End rhyme: the last words of each line rhyme Internal rhyme: two words within a line rhyme Metaphor: Direct comparison between two unlike objects

Literary Device Analysis “While the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Parallelism: Creates a cause-effect relationship between the cat and the mouse. If one does _____, the other does ______. Rhyme: The rhyming of away and play makes the expression easier to memorize, and makes this proverb seem more lighthearted and easy to understand. Metaphor: The cat is a metaphor for a person in charge, and the mouse is a metaphor for someone who has to obey the person in charge.

AFRICAN PROVERBS For many African cultures, proverbs are far more than quaint old sayings; they are tools of argument and debate. Proverbs are used to settle legal disputes, resolve ethical problems, and teach children the philosophy of their people. They represent a poetic form that uses few words to achieve great depth of meaning. Speakers who know and use proverbs have power within the community. More than one modern African leader has turned to the wisdom of proverbs in order to affirm decisions and to gain popular support and respect.