The Revelation of John

5382 Words22 Pages
University of Bern English Department MA Seminar: Body, Mind and Soul in Medieval English Literature Autumn Semester 2013 Alexandra Elena Anton 12-123-063 The Revelation of John CONTENTS 1. The Apocalyptic genre: definition and characteristics 1.1 The Revelation of John: Apocalyptic Literature 2. Author and Annotations 2.1 The Reasons 2.2 The Purpose 2.3 The Recipients 2.4 The Place 3. Key Terms in The Revelation 4. The Symbolism of Numbers 5. Conclusion 6. Bibliography 1 University of Bern English Department MA Seminar: Body, Mind and Soul in Medieval English Literature Autumn Semester 2013 Alexandra Elena Anton 12-123-063 1. The Apocalyptic genre: definition and characteristics As a theological and literary genre, apocalyptic genre (gr. apocalupsis = disclosure, discovery, revelation) is a genre akin to the prophetic, not to be confused though with this genre. Apocalyptic genre developed in the intertestamental period and represents a literature of spiritual and political crisis written in times of trial, which is expressed in a straightforward and symbolically encoded language, the hope that God will judge the world and will do justice to faithful people. The apocryphal apocalyptic literature (today unrecognized as religious writing between the canonical), illustrated with lots of writings both Jewish and Christian, presents certain characteristics. They all cultivate aliases, fiction, approximation and exaggeration and show a particular preference for expressing ideas using symbols, signs and visions. But while all uncanonical apocalyptic writings manifest a state of mind of crippling despair regarding the present torments and a total distrust in the success of human efforts to scarce the evil on earth, The Revelation of Saint John the Evangelist is the most robust expression of religious optimism. It is the last book of the New Testament
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