The literary influence of the Bible; the most important genres; creation myths, hero tales, erotic poetry, prophecy, short stories, devotional verse, gospels. Avoids the interpretations of the later religions. Various themes from folklore, archeology, and history; what the literature meant to its originators. How certain biblical topics have interested secular artists.

This course is an introduction to the history, theory, and practice of rhetoric, defined here as the art of persuasion. For nearly 2,500 years, rhetoric has been the central academic discipline for thinking about the adaptation of discourse to purpose, audience, occasion, and subject matter. The earliest rhetorical arts were focused on public speaking in direct democracies; later rhetorics treated eloquence more broadly, including written discourse and its role in not only political and legal affairs but also religion, science, commerce, art, and education.

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