Narrative Techniques In The Book Of Job

As one of the two major sources to western culture, the Bible has attracted much academic attention for its literariness at home and abroad. The Book of Job, as one of the most outstanding works of the wisdom literature in the Bible, has also aroused a large number of critics’attention with its distinctive narrative techniques. Through close reading and criticism review, the author of this thesis finds that the unique narrative techniques of The Book of Job are manifested in the following three aspects:unique and subtle characterization of the characters, ingenious use of focalization and the skilful arrangement of plot stages under the U-shaped narrative pattern. This thesis endeavors to conduct an elaborate research of the unique narrative techniques in The Book of Job by comprehensive use of Bar-Efrat’s theories of direct and indirect characterization, Genette’s focalization theories and Frye’s theories of U-shaped narrative pattern.This thesis at first concentrates mainly on the unique characterization in the Book of Job. The narrator employs indirect and direct characterization to portray characters, with Job being a round character who is portrayed to be a wise and righteous man in the eyes of God and also an accusant of God. Meanwhile, God is also characterized as a round character who is both omnipotent and kind. Obviously, Eliphaz and Bildad are depicted as flat characters, with the former portrayed to be a hypocrite, while the latter being a clown. Additionally, Satan is characterized as a typical flat character who is a totally malicious figure. Then this thesis analyzes the narrator’s skilful use of zero and variable internal focalization. The narrator makes characters present their different ways of thinking, thus collectively promoting the development of the narrative and conveying the implied meaning of the book under different focalization ways. In the last chapter, this thesis lays great emphasis on the unique arrangement of plot stages under the U-shaped narrative pattern and discusses in detail the four plot stages of Job’s fate under this pattern:Job’s turning from being full into being emptied in the prologue, Job’s conflicts with his three friends in the developing stage, Job’s encounter with God in Whirlwind in the climax and Job’s being restored to fullness in the end. It is obvious that the four plot stages comply with the U-shaped narrative pattern of the Bible:beginning in prosperity and harmony, descending to the bottom of suffering from tortures and hardships and being restored to fullness. Such a narrative interpretation of The Book of Job can provide a new perspective for the study of the Bible, especially the study of The Book of Job in China.