1. Bellringer Respond to the following quote
“Culture is so influenced by its dominant religious systems that whether a writer adheres to the beliefs or not, the values and principles of those religions will inevitably inform the literary work.”

2. Christ Figures
Fact: The U.S. and most of the Western world is a Christian culture
Doesn’t mean everyone in those places are Christians
Christianity is still a huge driving force for our culture whether you accept it as a religion or not

3. Christ Figures
Because of this, a knowledge of the old and new testaments of the Bible is useful in understanding much of Western literature
Authors know that Christianity is a big deal in this culture
Regardless of whether or not the author is a Christian, or even religious, it can be useful for them to make Biblical allusions

4. Christ Figures
If you’re going to make an allusion to Christianity, there’s one guy from the Bible that nearly everyone knows something about
Guess who?

5. Christ Figures You got it! Jesus!
What sort of facts do we know about Jesus already? What traits would you expect a Christ figure to have?

6. Christ Figures Crucified, wounds in the hands, feet, side, and head
In agony
Self-sacrificing
Good with children
Thirty-three years old at crucifixion
Employed as a carpenter

7. Christ Figures
Known to use humble modes of transportation, feet or donkeys preferred
Believed to have walked on water
Often portrayed with arms outstretched
Known to have spent time alone in the wilderness
Believed to have had a confrontation with the devil, possibly tempted

8. Christ Figures Last seen in the company of thieves
Creator of many aphorisms and parables
Buried, but arose on the third day
Had disciples, twelve at first, although not all equally devoted
Very forgiving
Came to redeem an unworthy world

9. Christ Figures It doesn’t matter if you believe this stuff or not
Remember that, in terms of literature, we use it to read for analysis
If you have a very strict religious interpretations, you may need to loosen them up a bit when reading some literature as everyone might not approach Christ or Christianity EXACTLY the way you do

10. Christ Figures Old Man and the Sea?
Even though Santiago doesn’t fit ALL characteristics of Christ he’s still a Christ FIGURE
Remember, a Christ figure will likely share similarities with Christ, but if he was exactly the same he’d be…well he’d be Christ himself instead of a Christ figure

11. Christ Figures
Santiago -Fisherman (and a bad one, no on believes in him) -Good w/ Children, particularly one small child (disciple?) -Pulled out to sea (wilderness) during epic fishing trip where he suffers (cuts hands, breaks rib)

12. Christ Figures
Santiago (c’td) -mumbles aphorisms: “Man is not made for defeat” -Returns from trip three days later and exhaustedly carries mast from ship to his shack -Lies in bed exhausted, arms out, wounds exposed
-People believe in him in a way they never did before

13. Christ Figures Unfortunately it won’t ALWAYS be this obvious
Some Christ figures may not even be male
Some Christ figures may not even be Christian
Different authors will borrow different elements to make different points, and don’t forget irony!

14. Christ Figures But what does it mean?
Well, that’s up to the reader and the author
Christ figures are a kind of symbol, and like any symbol are usually used to make a point
Maybe your author is after ideas of sacrifice, redemption, hope, or miracles
Or maybe not! Use your imagination!

15. Christ Figures
Head over to and search for Messianic Archetype (fancy term for Christ figure). Find an example of a Christ figure that you’re familiar with and take a few minutes to explain the similarities. If you can, tell how viewing this character as a Christ figure contributes to the meaning of the work.

16. The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst
Write three questions you have about the story.
In what way does Hurst use Christ Imagery and/or figures to expand the “message” of the story?
What other interesting devices do you see Hurst using? How? Where?