Rhetorical Criticism: Context, Method, and the Book of Jonah

by Phyllis Trible

Phyllis Trible examines rhetorical criticism as a discipline within biblical studies. In Part One she surveys the historical antecedents of the method from ancient times to the postmodern classical rhetoric, literary critical theory, literary study of the Bible, and form criticism. Trible then presents samples of rhetorical analysis as the art of composition and as the art of persuasion. In Part Two, formulated guidelines are applied to a detailed study of the book of Jonah. A close reading with respect to structure, syntax, style, and substance elicits a host of meanings embedded in text, enabling the relationship between artistry and theology to emerge with clarity. Rhetorical Criticism has many distinctive features. It is the first comprehensive treatment of biblical rhetorical criticism as it has emerged within the latter half of the twentieth century. a didactic treatise that combines theoretical discussion, practical guidelines, and detailed exegesis interdisciplinary in approach, engaging the rhetorical study of the Bible with expanding developments in secular literary criticism (structuralism, poetics, reader-response criticism, and deconstruction, for example) and in the similarly burgeoning field of contemporary rhetoric itself a model of the rhetorical analysis that it describes accessible both to the novice and to the scholar

Genres: Theology

264 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

Reviews

[Nathan Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, a brilliant work. I'm a pastor who just led his congregation through Jonah, and I found this to be a really helpful resource for getting deep into the artistry and beauty of Jonah. Of all of the biblical commentaries I've read, this is the most unique in that it is pedagogical in focus.

I had a team of a few folks studying Jonah with me as we went. I gave us each a different commentary and this was the one I chose. I found it to be really unique in what it said about Jonah, but more than this, it introduced me to the world of Rhetorical Criticism. It will be a tool in my belt for ongoing ministry! Thank you!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent academic book that will both teach you a great method for reading narrative as well as teaching you a lot about the book of Jonah.

[Andrew (Drew) Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

To my shame I had not read this book before. It’s a fantastic distillation of the biblical criticism I most adhere to. In addition is Trible’s signature close reading style which is always compelling. Trible is probably most commonly known for her feminist readings of biblical texts, but her exegesis and writing is what makes her readings so compelling.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Rob O'Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read this when I was working of my thesis for my Master of Divinity, on the rhetoric in Psalms. Came back to it this month because I am actually preaching through Jonah, and I wanted to focus on the rhetoric of the narrative. While this book is better at rhetorical criticism than introducing Jonah, it is solid on both fronts: both as an introduction to rhetorical criticism (my flavor of choice) and as a commentary on the book of Jonah.

[KA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm unswayed by Trible's description of Jonah's structure (I think there are too many exceptions to her rule), but her writing is witty and she presents rhetorical criticism extremely well! I think her translation of the book would be helpful in giving the flavor of the language to someone who doesn't read Hebrew.

[Lu Tsun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phyllis Trible demonstrated the procedure of rhetorical criticism through the study of the Book of Jonah, to make the "art" of rhetoric more "scientific." The beginning survey of the methodological history is useful, but Trible's own judgement is not clearly heard.