Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Critical exegesis'

This study presents a work of theatre art in the form of an autobiographical monodrama, supported by three exegeses: a review of informing literature, one of the writing process, the third of the critical reactions to the play at different stages of its development by readers and audiences. The thesis considers the two questions, How can theatre depict my autobiography? and How can monodrama be used to express this autobiography? The first question implies an examination of the process of writing and producing an autobiography for the theatre. The second question is answered through the process that developed in this study towards the choice of the form of a monodrama. The methodology emerged as the play was written and a journal recorded. At times the approach, particularly as it affected the writing of the play, was more like action research in which the play was reacted to and then amended in a cyclical manner, the writer also developing new understandings in the process. The reflective process was used to help in understanding the development that was taking place. A survey, and interviews with audience members were conducted as part of the investigation once the artwork was presented. In addition, after the piece had been developed to the point of presentation, it was subjected to critical evaluation, The data from the audience assisted in the development of the artwork as well as developing an understanding of the research question and the possible answers or further questions. The Generic Exegesis arose out of the reading, and developed as an exegesis accompanying the writing of the play once the form of the play had clearly become a monodrama. The Generic Exegesis is designed to show background reading that has informed directly the writing and performing of the play, 'The Changeling'. A principal objective for writing the play developed from a desire to help others to understand something of the conflicts and dilemmas facing adoptees towards the search for self identity and its relationship to acting. Part of the conflict for an adopted person was crystallised in Derridas concept of erasure and the use of the trace to recognise the coexistence of both sides of a binary, which rationalised the splitting of the central character into the two traces, Dominic and Frank. My need for control of the outcome affected the selection from the autobiography, the development of some scenes, and was one of the reasons for the use of fiction. The data for the Process Exegesis came from the journal that was kept during the writing, production, performance and rewrites of the play. The role of the audience had emerged in the interview data and one of the interview questions asked what kind of audience the respondent thought the play suitable for. The Process Exegesis shows that part of the answer to the research question is arrived at through the systematic recording and analysis of the processes that were involved in the writing of the autobiographical play. These have shown that artistic worth was increased as a factor of the distance achieved. The Critical Exegesis showsthat the issues that the play addressed such as adoption and a search for identity were also perceived as important by the readers and the audience. Significant contributions to the development of the play were made by the Dramaturg (Dl) and some cogent points were made by a second dramaturg. The respondents who were interviewed reacted to the content of the play, namely adoption, identity and the issues associated with them, as well as the performance. This study investigates the processes of the development of an autobiographical performance from the generation of the script to the public presentation. It shows that theatre can artistically depict an autobiography and that the perceived appropriate contemporary theatre formis the monodrama. The main issue to be recognised as arising out of the play and the process is that the whole project has been a search for identity. That identity is defined in the range of characters portrayed in the play as well as the process of writing it. The outcome of the investigation was a piece of dramatic performance text that I had written and performed, accompanied by a critical commentary on the creation, production and reception processes.

This study presents a work of theatre art in the form of an autobiographical monodrama, supported by three exegeses: a review of informing literature, one of the writing process, the third of the critical reactions to the play at different stages of its development by readers and audiences. The thesis considers the two questions, How can theatre depict my autobiography? and How can monodrama be used to express this autobiography? The first question implies an examination of the process of writing and producing an autobiography for the theatre. The second question is answered through the process that developed in this study towards the choice of the form of a monodrama. The methodology emerged as the play was written and a journal recorded. At times the approach, particularly as it affected the writing of the play, was more like action research in which the play was reacted to and then amended in a cyclical manner, the writer also developing new understandings in the process. The reflective process was used to help in understanding the development that was taking place. A survey, and interviews with audience members were conducted as part of the investigation once the artwork was presented. In addition, after the piece had been developed to the point of presentation, it was subjected to critical evaluation, The data from the audience assisted in the development of the artwork as well as developing an understanding of the research question and the possible answers or further questions. The Generic Exegesis arose out of the reading, and developed as an exegesis accompanying the writing of the play once the form of the play had clearly become a monodrama. The Generic Exegesis is designed to show background reading that has informed directly the writing and performing of the play, 'The Changeling'. A principal objective for writing the play developed from a desire to help others to understand something of the conflicts and dilemmas facing adoptees towards the search for self identity and its relationship to acting. Part of the conflict for an adopted person was crystallised in Derridas concept of erasure and the use of the trace to recognise the coexistence of both sides of a binary, which rationalised the splitting of the central character into the two traces, Dominic and Frank. My need for control of the outcome affected the selection from the autobiography, the development of some scenes, and was one of the reasons for the use of fiction. The data for the Process Exegesis came from the journal that was kept during the writing, production, performance and rewrites of the play. The role of the audience had emerged in the interview data and one of the interview questions asked what kind of audience the respondent thought the play suitable for. The Process Exegesis shows that part of the answer to the research question is arrived at through the systematic recording and analysis of the processes that were involved in the writing of the autobiographical play. These have shown that artistic worth was increased as a factor of the distance achieved. The Critical Exegesis showsthat the issues that the play addressed such as adoption and a search for identity were also perceived as important by the readers and the audience. Significant contributions to the development of the play were made by the Dramaturg (Dl) and some cogent points were made by a second dramaturg. The respondents who were interviewed reacted to the content of the play, namely adoption, identity and the issues associated with them, as well as the performance. This study investigates the processes of the development of an autobiographical performance from the generation of the script to the public presentation. It shows that theatre can artistically depict an autobiography and that the perceived appropriate contemporary theatre formis the monodrama. The main issue to be recognised as arising out of the play and the process is that the whole project has been a search for identity. That identity is defined in the range of characters portrayed in the play as well as the process of writing it. The outcome of the investigation was a piece of dramatic performance text that I had written and performed, accompanied by a critical commentary on the creation, production and reception processes.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Vocational, Technology and Arts Education
Arts, Education and Law
Full Text

This research aims to explore and examine the discipline of ‘scientific exegeses’ by providing a critical study of one of the first major works in that field, the al-Jawāhir fī Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-Karīm of Ṭanṭāwī Jawharī (1862-1940) a contemporary prominent Muslim theologian and exegete of Egypt. Since the aim of this thesis is critically examine and explore the al-Jawāhir fī Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-Karīm as a founding document of scientific exegesis in contemporary Muslims world, historical development of scientific exegesis from the traditionalists up to contemporary scholars’ arguments, rational and textual, are examined to provide context for the research. Comparative discursive analysis method is used in order to differentiate between the traditionalists and modern time with regard to their methodology in dealing with the scientific exegesis. Ṭanṭāwī Jawharī is chosen due to his seminal contributions in pioneering some important intellectuals in the study of scientific exegesis. Besides providing a biographical sketch of Ṭanṭāwī Jawharī, this research examines some of the significant matters and assesses the methodology of Ṭanṭāwī in dealing with his magnum opus incorporated into discussions of the al-Jawāhir in the eyes of other prominent scholars. This research concludes that classifying the al-Jawāhir as an encyclopedic scientific exegesis is fairly justified and that it significantly contributed to the rich of Islamic scientific exegesis in contemporary Muslims world. Ṭanṭāwī and the al-Jawāhir’s main contribution, as suggested by this study, is in the integration of two branches of knowledge; the Qur’ān and science. In this, the al-Jawāhir represents a trend parallel to a new school of thought, the pioneers of which were philosophers who attempted to reconcile philosophy and religion.

The Glossa ordinaria on the Bible stands as one of the prime achievements of the period in western intellectual history known as the Renaissance of the twelfth century. In spite of the great number of still extant manuscripts very little is known about the circumstances around its composition. This state of affairs is partly explained by the lack of modern and critical editions of the books of the Glossa ordinaria. The present work is the first critical edition of the Glossa ordinaria on the Book of Lamentations, and consists of the forewords, or prothemata, and the first book (of five) of this text, which was compiled early in the twelfth century by the theologian and Ciceronian rhetorician Gilbert the Universal (†1134), schoolmaster at Auxerre and subsequently Bishop of London. The introduction includes a background sketch of the environment in which the Glossa ordinaria was conceived – the school of Laon – with a short biography of Gilbert the Universal, as well as a study of the sources to this particular part of the Gloss, chief among them the ninth-century commentary of Paschasius Radbertus. It is shown that Gilbert’s major improvement to his source, apart from drastically rewriting it, consists of the introduction of Ciceronian rhetorical loci to the verses of Lamentations. The introduction furthermore provides the reader with an analysis of the manuscript tradition of the early twelfth century and a selective analysis of the later manuscript tradition (some 86 manuscripts have so far been traced). One of the conclusions reached is that the Gloss on Lamentations exists in two textual recensions, the one original, the other a later redaction made once the Gloss had become a success and preserved in nearly all the later manuscripts. The manuscripts of the first recension, which is the one edited in the present work, may be organised into a stemma codicum consisting of two major families originating in a single archetype. It is possible to reconstruct this archetype on the basis of the five oldest manuscripts. An English translation of the edited text is included, as well as a ‘semi-critical’ edition of the text of the second recension. An important part of the present work consists of an effort to combine the sophisticated mise-en-page of the glossed manuscripts with the standards of presentation to be expected of a modern critical edition.

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Theology and Science are distinct areas of knowledge s construction that can dialogue to each other, because both seek to explain the world. Is this dialogue possible, today, especially considering the extraordinary advances in Science and, on the other hand, the stagnation of Theology in its classic schema based on Revelation and Tradition, as well as the loss of its cognitive character? Efforts are being undertaken by representatives from both areas, in various directions, aiming at rapprochement between them. This requires, for both, renounce any confrontation, but also renounce the claim that there isn t any contradiction between Bible and Science, and follow the way of mutual collaboration, through a "critical-constructive interaction", as proposes Hans Küng. Since the Bible is one of the sources of theological knowledge, to the biblical hermeneutics this imposes the task of contributing with its specificity in this process. Texts that defy scientific knowledge, as the "stop of the Sun and the Moon", in Joshua 10,12-14, were in the midst of the crisis that resulted in disagreement and detachment between Theology and Science, since Galileo s case". Such texts are asking today to be revisited, in order to no longer obstruct the dialogue. With the historical-critical exegesis and the criticalconstructive hermeneutics of the referred text of Joshua, associated to some epistemological considerations, the present thesis wishes to contribute to the consolidation of a secure base for the bridge which has been building between the two areas.
Teologia e Ciência são áreas distintas de construção do conhecimento que podem dialogar entre si, pois ambas pretendem explicar o mundo. Será possível esse diálogo, hoje, sobretudo considerando os extraordinários avanços da Ciência e, em contrapartida, a estagnação da Teologia em seu esquema clássico baseado na Revelação e na Tradição, bem como a perda de seu caráter cognitivo? Esforços vêm sendo empreendidos por representantes de ambas as áreas, em diversas direções, visando a reaproximação entre elas. Isso exige, para ambas, renunciar a toda confrontação, como também ao "concordismo", à alegação de que não existe qualquer contradição entre Bíblia e Ciência, e seguir o caminho da mútua colaboração, por meio de uma interação crítico-construtiva , como propõe Hans Küng. Já que a Bíblia é uma das fontes do saber teológico, impõe-se para a hermenêutica bíblica a tarefa de contribuir com sua especificidade nesse processo. Textos que desafiam o conhecimento científico, como o da parada do sol e da lua , em Josué 10,12-14, estiveram no bojo da crise que resultou no desentendimento e afastamento entre a Teologia e a Ciência, a partir do caso Galileu . Tais textos pedem hoje uma revisita, de forma a não mais obstaculizar o diálogo. Com a exegese histórico-crítica e a hermenêutica crítico-construtiva do referido texto de Josué, associadas a algumas considerações epistemológicas, a presente tese deseja contribuir para a consolidação de uma base segura para a ponte que se vem construindo entre as duas áreas.

Dans notre thèse de doctorat, nous avons publié presque intégralement l’édition critique commentée de l’exégèse au Bucolicum carmen de Pétrarque réalisée par Francesco Piendibeni de Montepulciano, humaniste italien du Trecento tardif. L’exégèse, achevée à Pérouse en 1394, est conservée dans le manuscrit autographe Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 1729. Dans son ensemble, l’oeuvre est restée jusqu’à aujourd’hui inédite : seul Antonio Avena, en 1906, a fourni une simple transcription, partielle et imparfaite, de quelques gloses. Notre édition a l’ambition d’être novatrice : non seulement elle établit et analyse de manière critique un texte resté longtemps méconnu, mais elle permet aussi d’approfondir la connaissance du poème bucolique de Pétrarque, de mieux évaluer sa réception auprès des érudits qui lui ont succédé et d’éclairer la connaissance de la tradition exégétique du premier Humanisme. Une source fondamentale pour Piendibeni est le commentaire au Bucolicum carmen réalisé par Benvenuto da Imola : nous enavons fourni une transcription inédite tirée du manuscrit Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 8700. Enfin, nous avons mis à jour la liste des manuscrits connus qui appartinrent à Piendibeni et reconstruit ainsi pour la première fois de manière approfondie sa bibliothèque
This doctoral thesis presents, almost in its entirety, the critical edition with commentary of the exegesis of Petrarch’s Bucolicum carmen by Francesco Piendibeni of Montepulciano, an Italian humanist of the late Trecento. The exegesis, completed in Perugia in 1394, is preserved in the autograph manuscript Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 1729. The work as a whole has remained unpublished until today; only Antonio Avena, in 1906, provided a simpletranscription, partial and imperfect, of some glosses. The edition contained in this thesis aims at being innovative; in effect, it not only establishes and critically analyses a text which has remained unknown for a long time, but also makes it possible to delve deeper into the knowledge of Petrarch’s bucolic poem, to better assess how it was received by the scholars who came after him and to shed light on the exegetical tradition of early Humanism. A fundamental source for Piendibeni was Benvenuto da Imola’s commentary on the Bucolicum carmen; an unpublished transcription is provided here, based on the manuscript Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 8700. Finally, the list of known manuscripts belonging to Piendibeni has been updated, so that, for the first time, his library has been exhaustively reconstructed

L’In epistulas Pauli de Théodoret de Cyr (Ve siècle) est le plus ancien commentaire en grec des épîtres de Paul conservé dans sa langue originale. Cette thèse propose l’édition critique du Prologue et de l’In Romanos, à partir de l’examen de tous les manuscrits de la tradition directe ainsi que d’un manuscrit de chaîne. Elle offre aussi la première traduction de cette œuvre en français. Alors que de nombreux travaux se sont penchés sur les principes et les méthodes de l’exégèse antiochienne de l’Ancien Testament, celle du Nouveau Testament est encore assez mal connue. À travers différentes études thématiques, on tente de caractériser la démarche exégétique propre à ce corpus en analysant les éléments structurant le discours ainsi que certaines particularités sémantiques : on met ainsi au jour les lignes de force de l’interprétation à l’œuvre dans un commentaire dont la distance par rapport au texte commenté est minimale. Par ailleurs, on met en lumière le travail de l’exégète par rapport à la source chrysostomienne. Enfin, on étudie les articulations entre exégèse et polémique – discours sur les Juifs, cible marcionite, échos des controverses trinitaires et christologiques – en cherchant des rapprochements avec la tradition exégétique et théologique en ce qui concerne l’argumentation scripturaire. L’analyse de la démarche argumentative aussi bien que la recherche des sources permet de mettre en relief les richesses d’une œuvre qui, à première lecture, semble être une simple paraphrase du texte biblique
Theodoret of Cyrrhus’s In epistulas Pauli (5th c.) is the oldest surviving Greek commentary that has been preserved in the original language. This dissertation presents a critical edition of Theodoret’s prologue and commentary on the Epistle to the Romans based on all the extant direct manuscripts as well as one catena manuscript. It also offers the first translation of the work into the French language. While many scholars have studied the principles and methods of Antiochene exegesis for the Old Testament, the methods used for the New Testament remain largely unexamined. Through different thematic studies, the dissertation explores the exegetical approach which deals with and is shaped by this latter corpus specifically. By analyzing the elements that structure its discourse as well as its semantic tendencies, it sets out to reveal the central features of Theodoret’s exegetical approach despite the minimal distance which he maintains between the Biblical text and his commentary. Special attention is also paid to Theodoret’s use of the works of John Chrysostom in his own writing. Finally, the dissertation explores the relationship between Theodoret’s biblical exegesis and the rich tradition of scriptural quotation both in a historical and theological context. The main focus is on his polemical discourses on the Jews and the Marcionites and also in his writings on the Trinitarian and Christological controversies. Through a careful analysis of the exegete’s approach to scriptural argumentation and his use of sources, we hope to reveal the richness and versatility of a work which, at first glance, appears to be little more than a simple paraphrase of the biblical text

Parole sans contexte évident ni trame narrative, le texte fondateur de l’islam ne dévoile pas aisément ses origines. Cette thèse examine un code de lecture particulier qui a pour effet de contextualiser le texte sacré de l’islam dans ce qu’on imagine avoir été son contexte premier. La lecture chronologique consiste à déterminer l’inscription temporelle de chaque sourate ou énoncé coranique par rapport, d’une part, aux autres énoncés et, d’autre part, à la carrière prophétique de Muḥammad. En (ré-)introduisant une dimension temporelle et narrative, l’interprétation du Coran est facilitée. Ce dernier est ainsi en mesure de raconter, sinon son histoire, du moins une histoire. La chronologie coranique structure à la fois l’exégèse musulmane prémoderne et la recherche universitaire occidentale sur le Coran. Dans cette thèse, nous examinons ces deux domaines de production de savoir, non pas en opposition l’un avec l’autre mais comme deux moments de la réception du texte coranique. Cette approche inclusive permet, à travers l’étude d’une problématique spécifique, d’entamer une réflexion sur les convergences et les divergences entre l’érudition islamique et la recherche occidentale. Notre point de départ et fil conducteur est la liste chronologique des sourates, qui circule dans la Tradition musulmane avant d’être reprise et retravaillée par des universitaires occidentaux. La quête de la séquence originelle du Coran a engendré des débats autant parmi les exégètes que dans la recherche historico-critique. Nous retraçons ces débats et portons une attention particulière à la « textualité » du Coran, qui en fait un texte particulièrement difficile à ancrer dans un contexte
Devoid of a clear context and a narrative frame, the founding text of Islam does not easily reveal its origins. This thesis examines a particular reading code that contextualises the Muslim scripture in what is imagined to have been its original context. A chronological reading aims at determining the temporal position of each sura or qur'ānic passage in relation to, on the one hand, the rest of the text and, on the other hand, the prophetic career of Muḥammad. By (re-)introducing a temporal and narrative frame, the interpretation of the Qur’ān is facilitated. The text is thus allowed to tell its own story or – in any case – a story. The issue of qur’ānic chronology structures both pre-modern Muslim exegesis and Western academic research on the Qur’ān. In this thesis, we examine these two fields of knowledge, not in opposition to one another but as representing two moments in the Qur’ān’s reception. This inclusive approach enables a reflection on the continuities and discontinuities between the Muslim scholarly tradition and Western research. The chronological list of suras, transmitted by Muslim tradition and examined by Western academics, provides the starting point and the connecting thread of the thesis. The search for the original sequence of the Qur’ān has generated debates, both in exegetical circles and in historical-critical research. We explore what is at stake in these debates and pay specific attention to the textuality of the Qur’ān, which, we argue, does not easily allow us to inscribe the Muslim Scripture in a clear context

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
This thesis includes a creative component, What Came Between, and an accompanying critical exegesis. What Came Between is a collection of twelve realist short stories about residents of adjoining terraces in inner-city Newcastle. The collection opens on the 28th of December 1989, the day of the Newcastle Earthquake, and ends a decade later on New Year’s Eve as the BHP steelworks closes and the city’s history of steelmaking comes to an end. This kind of collection, which gains unity from its consistent setting and recurring characters, belongs to the short story cycle genre. The exegesis discusses the two contexts most relevant to What Came Between, that is the realist mode and the short story cycle genre, and notes the relative influences of Raymond Carver and Tim Winton in both instances.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The creative component of this thesis is The Weight of a Human Heart, a collection of twenty short stories written in a variety of different styles, and utilising a number of diverse settings, from Africa to China to Australia. The collection is comprised of an equal number of realist and formally experimental short stories, including stories in the form of book reviews, homework assignments and graphs and charts. The critical exegesis maps out the major influences on The Weight of the Human Heart in the context of a survey of the Australian short story, an examination of metafiction, and a discussion of the work of James Joyce, Vladimir Nabokov and the Oulipo.

The composition of Joshua 3 and 4 forms the main focus of this study. Although Joshua 3 and 4 have been the subject of many studies, there have been no satisfactory explanation of the many contradictions and incoherence in these chapters. Apart form the literary problems regarding the composition of Joshua 3 and 4, some challenging historical questions arise from the study of these chapters. Therefore, this literary study of Joshua 3 and 4 will not also involve some broader literary questions like the position of the book of Joshua in the Canon, but it will also attempt to answer historical questions about Israel`s past. My hypothesis is that that the final text of Joshua 3 and 4 is the result of several redactions. The original narrative of the Jordan crossing forms the main part of these chapters. This original deuteronomistic narrative was originally part of a Deuteronomistic History that encompassed Deuteronomy, Joshua, and some parts of 1 and 2 Samuel as well as the books of 1 and 2 Kings. The Deuteronomistic History originated in the exile, and was the subject of major editing up to the Persian era. Joshua 3 and 4 reflects the process of the formation of the Pentateuch. The original deuteronomistic narrative of the Jordan crossing was subsequently supplemented by a post-priestly narrative which enhanced the miracle of the crossing. This supplement probably took place when the priestly composition (Ex-Num) was joined to the deuteronomistic composition (Deut-2 Kon) as part of an compromise between rival priestly groups. The book of Deuteronomy was eventually incorporated in the foregoing books (Ex-Num) to form a Pentateuch. As a result of this process, the book of Joshua was cut off from Deuteronomy and became a post-Deuteronomic book. This explains not only the affinities and differences between Joshua and Deuteronomy, but also the peculiar position of the book of Joshua in the Canon. The narrative of the twelve memorial stones (Joshua 4) forms part of an etiological formula, found throughout Joshua 1-12. These etiological reference points reflects the lists of the returning exiles and the builders of the Jerusalem`s walls in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Furthermore, these etiological references reflects the borders of the post-exilic Israel. Joshua 4 is the post-exilic Israel`s way of interpreting the pre-exilic conquest narratives in Joshua 1-12 in order to make sense of their present situation. There are also references to the post-deuteronomistic emphasis on many sanctuaries (which probably served to legitimize the Samaritan Temple at Mount Gerizim. The book of Joshua is not to be classified as history. This study enhances the hypothesis that the book of Joshua embodies the ideology of post-exilic Judaism. In its final form, the book probably served as an attempt to bring a compromise between rival priesthoods and rival ideologies. Although the book had pre-exilic (deuteronomistic) origins, it was subsequently edited to function in a post-exilic context when the people of Israel were facing a new future with new possibilities.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010.
Old Testament Studies
unrestricted

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
"Social Crimes" is a thesis comprised of a novel entitled "Crooked" and a critical exegesis on the subject of the social novel entitled "Social Crimes: The Social Novel as Crime Fiction". In the exegesis I argue that the dream of the social novel is primarily a political rather than an aesthetic one, and that, in this sense, social novels must not only address the social in their content and form, but must in some sense be enfranchised as social objects, and circulate as such. I also argue that as avant garde literature has progressively abandoned plot and other forms and conventions commonly associated with popular fiction, mass market, genre, and especially crime fiction, have increasingly come to fill the space once occupied by the social novel, as a genuinely popular form of fiction able to explicate the social transformations and upheavals of contemporary life. In so arguing, the exegesis draws together a range of critical debates taking place inside and outside the academy, including debates over experimental versus conventional narrative, high versus low art, theory versus practice, and most significantly, perhaps, the political relevance of an increasingly marginalised and marginalising literature in consumer capitalist society. The novel itself is about organised crime and political corruption in Sydney during the Askin era. It is a hybrid of crime novel, social novel and historical novel — high and low art. In style, content and form it reflects the theoretical concerns mapped out in the exegesis. Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor John Dale, without whose critical insight, intelligence, dedication and uncanny editorial ability this project would never have seen the light of day. I would also like to thank my associate supervisor Catherine Cole for the valuable contribution she made to the development of both the critical exegesis and the creative work. Last but not least, thanks go to Meg Simons, Peter Bishop and the Varuna Writer's Centre where the novel went through its gestation. The help of others during my research for the project has been invaluable. I would like to thank everybody at the Mitchell Library, the State Archives, the Australian Archives, the State Coroner's Office, and those people who dealt with my persistent (though not always successful) requests for documents from the State Attorney General's Office and N.S.W. Police Department. I would like to thank my uncle, former Royal Commissioner Frank Costigan, for giving me the benefit of his insight and experience, as well as a number of people from 'shadier walks of life' who agreed to be interviewed for the project, but have asked to remain anonymous. That said, all errors of fact are intentional and entirely the fault of the author.

"This PhD project involved the writing of an illustrated contemporary Gothic novel entitled The Silting. Concurrent with the writing of the novel, a substantial, theoretically informed exegetical critique of the novel was also produced. The Novel: The Silting is a contemporary Gothic novel set in a fictitious English seaside village called Cove. The Siltings narrative is predominantly driven by the psychotic interior monologue of the narrator Johnathan Wolms. Despite Johnathans cynical and nihilistic demeanour, he becomes obsessed with the apparent divine presence of an ancient stone cube the Cube - that speaks to him from its housing in an old windmill. The Cubes influence seems intrinsically connected to a number of other characters, such as the mill owners daughter Abby. The Exegesis, produced concurrently with the writing of The Silting, explores the process of creating The Silting particularly with regard to its location within the contemporary Gothic genre, as well as its role in terms of metafictionality. Significantly, the latter concept became more pronounced as both the novel and exegesis drafts proceeded, in that the self-reflexive, metafictional interplay of the novel seemed to spill across both fictional and exegetic frames. In this way, the writing of the novel influenced the nature of the exegesis; and vice versa, exegetic research came to influence the content and narrative direction of the novel." -- abstract

L’objectif de ce mémoire est de mettre en lumière la mise en forme, la réception et la transmission de 2S 7,1-17 à l’intérieur du débat qui a présentement cours autour de la rédaction deutéronomiste, ainsi que de vérifier le lien possible de ce texte avec l’évolution de la pensée théologique juive issue de l’édition deutéronomiste. Notre recherche commence par établir un texte hébreu de travail fiable grâce à la critique textuelle. L’analyse syntaxique nous permet ensuite de proposer une traduction qui soit la plus fidèle possible au texte hébreu retenu afin de mieux comprendre le sens du texte dans sa langue originale. Nous abordons, dans le troisième chapitre, la question des différentes sources littéraires ayant pu servir à la composition du texte de 2S 7,1-17. L’exploration plus détaillée de quelques pistes qui sont apparues à la suite de la critique des sources et de la réception du texte de 2S 7,1-17 par le(s) Chroniste(s), nous permet de constater qu’à l’intérieur des traditions textuelles hébraïques, la prophétie de Nathan a évolué de façon significative dans le parcours des différentes traditions de relecture. À partir des quatres étapes de recherches, nous dégageons les éléments qui pourraient être mis en lien avec les théories existantes dans le cadre de l’histoire deutéronomiste et mettons en lumière les forces et les faiblesses des solutions proposées. Les résultats de la recherche nous permettent de penser que l’intégration de la prophétie de Nathan dans la trame historique s’expliquerait par la nécessité d’éclairer une suite d’événements selon diverses perspectives théologiques. Ce n’est qu’à partir des conditions exiliques que nous aurions le texte de 2S 7,1-17 le plus tardif offrant une réflexion sur la première histoire d’Israël. Dans ce sens, la prophétie de Nathan prendrait toute sa valeur et son extension bien au-delà de la seule histoire personnelle de David ou de Salomon.
The principal objective of this thesis is to elucidate the source materials, the reception and the transmission of 2S 7,1-17 inside the debate concerning the Deuteronomic History, as well as to verify the possible link of the text with the evolution of the Jewish theology coming from the Deuteronomic edition. Our research begins with textual criticism in order to establish a reliable text in the Hebrew language. Then a syntactic analysis allows us to propose an accurate translation and to better understand the meaning of the text in its original language. Taking into account the results from these two first chapters, we then deal with the question concerning the different literary sources which lie behind the text of 2S 7,1-17. A more detailed exploration of some issues ensuins the source criticism and the study of the reception of 2S 7,1-17 by the Chronicler(s), show that inside the Hebrew literal traditions, the prophecy of Nathan evolved significantly in different traditions. Based on the four steps of research, we identify the elements that could be linked with the theories existing in the debate of the Deuteronomic History, and highlight the forces and the weaknesses of the proposed solutions. The research results allow us to think that the integration of the prophecy of Nathan into history could be explained by the necessity to clarify a sequence of events according to the diverse theological perspectives. It is in the conditions of the Exile that we have the latest text of 2S 7,1-17 offering a reflection on the first history of Israel. In this meaning, the prophecy of Nathan takes all its value and its extension beyond only the personal history of David or of Solomon.

Le Coran et la Sunna (la tradition du prophète Muḥammad) relatée dans les aḥâdîth (les traditions orales du Prophète) représentent la source éternelle d’inspiration et de savoir à laquelle les Musulmans se réfèrent pour agir, réagir et interagir. Par le fait même, tout au long de l’histoire musulmane, ces sources sacrées ont été à la base des relations des Musulmans avec autrui, incluant les Chrétiens. Les trois éléments majeurs de différenciation entre l’islam et le christianisme sont : la nature divine de Jésus, la trinité ainsi que la crucifixion et la mort de Jésus sur la croix. La position tranchée du Coran quant aux deux premiers points ne laisse place à aucun débat académique. Cependant, l’ambiguïté du texte coranique quant à la crucifixion de Jésus et sa mort a favorisé de nombreux débats entre mufassirûn (les exégètes du Coran). Cette thèse est une analyse textuelle des deux passages coraniques qui traitent de cette troisième différence. Pour cette étude textuelle et intertextuelle, les tafâsîr (interprétations du Coran) de huit mufassirûn appartenant à différentes madhâhib (écoles d’interprétation) et périodes de l’histoire des relations musulmanes-chrétiennes sont utilisés en combinaison avec certaines approches et méthodes récentes telles que : historico-critique et critique rédactionnelle. De plus, trois nouvelles théories développées dans la thèse enrichissent les outils herméneutiques de la recherche : la « théorie des cinq couches de sens », la « théorie des messages coraniques doubles » et la « théorie de la nature humaine tripartite ». À la lumière de ces théories et méthodes, il apparaît que l’ambiguïté coranique au sujet de la crucifixion et de la mort de Jésus est une invitation claire de la part du Coran incitant les Musulmans et les Chrétiens à vivre avec cette ambiguïté insoluble. La conclusion de cette thèse contribue directement à de meilleures relations musulmanes-chrétiennes, renforçant l’appel coranique (Coran 3:64, 103) à ces deux communautés leurs demandant de se cramponner aux points communs majeurs, d’intégrer leurs différences mineures et de consacrer leurs énergies pour une vie harmonieuse entre eux et laisser le reste dans les mains du Dieu qu’ils ont en commun.
The Qur’ân, together with the sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet Muḥammad recounted in aḥâdîth (oral traditions of the Prophet), form the eternal source of inspiration and knowledge upon which the Muslim communities have acted and reacted to, as well as interacted with. Externally, their relations with many others, including Christians, have followed the same dynamics, as seen in the mirror of the Qur’ân and its interpretations. The topics of the divine nature of Jesus, the trinity, and the crucifixion of Jesus and his death on the cross, have been commonly considered the three main theological points of disagreement between Muslims and Christians. The Qur’ân’s clear position vis-à-vis the first two points do not leave any space for scholarly debates. However, despite Muslims’ actual consensus on denying Jesus’ crucifixion and death, the Qur’ânic ambiguous image of Jesus’ last day on earth has caused many discussions among mufassirûn (exegetes of the Qur’ân). This thesis is a textual analysis of the two Qur’ânic passages on this debated point of difference. For this textual and intertextual study, the tafâsîr (interpretations of the Qur’ân) of eight mufassirûn belonging to different madhâhib (schools of interpretation) from various periods in the history of Muslim-Christian relations are used in combination with recent textual approaches and methods such as: historico-citical and redaction critical. In addition, three new theories developed within this dissertation complete the hermeneutical tools employed for this research: the “theory of five layers of meaning,” the “theory of double messages of the Qur’ân,” and the “theory of humans’ tripartite nature.” In the light of these theories and methods, it emerges that the Qur’ânic ambiguity on Jesus’ crucifixion and death may well be the Qur’ân’s own invitation to Muslims and Christians to live with that unresolvable ambiguity. This dissertation’s conclusion thus contributes directly to better Muslim-Christian relations, reinforcing the Qur’ânic call to both Muslims and Christians (Qur’ân 3:64, 103) to focus on major common points, to embrace minor differences, and to spend their energy on what might have a positive impact on their harmonious co-habitation, abandoning the rest in the hands of God in whom both believe.

An African Perspective on Poverty Proverbs in the Book of Proverbs: An Analysis for Transformational Possibilities. This thesis contributes to the emerging global scholarly discussion on prioritising the practical relevance of biblical interpretation, particularly in Africa. Taking poverty as a case study, this thesis employs the notion of the popular social origin of proverbs to critically analyse the subject in the Book of Proverbs. A social anthropological approach, historical-critical methods, rhetorical criticism and contextual exegesis are used to analyse proverbs regarding the poor in the Book of Proverbs and African proverbial material. On one hand, the investigation reveals that many Western scholars take their cue from the `official' social context of the Book of Proverbs. However, the impact of an unconscious subjectivity owing to the Western secularising influence on their studies into poverty has posited a conservative status quo in the way the Book of Proverbs addresses it. On the other hand, an investigation of similar traditional African proverbial material on the poor reveals a holistic transformative possibility. Its life-centred dynamism is located in an integrative worldview that comprises mutual assistance, collective responsibility, family, community, social, political, religious and economic networks as one whole. Because cultural parallels exist between the society of ancient Israel and traditional African societies, the thesis argues the use of the African proverbial performance context in the interpretation of proverbs concerning the poor in the Book of Proverbs. The result of such cross-cultural application highlights the possible transformative social, economic, political and religious supportive networks essential to a viable and sustainable holistic development of society. Consequently, such a holistic approach to poverty may enable Bible readers to make meaning and empower the will of African Christians to rise practically to the challenge of poverty eradication in all spheres of their lives. A caution also to the universal church is to be found in the fact that the Book of Proverbs made an essential contribution to the transformation of the social, economic, political and religious life of Israel. Approaching the Book of Proverbs in terms of a popular context is a fact that can no longer be simply ignored.
Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
D.Th.