Bellringer

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 dowe know about Jesusalready? What traitswould you expect aChrist 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 www.tvtropes.org 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?