Informed by your literary analysis of the book of Esther, answer the following questions: Why do stories like Esther’s attract us? What do stories offer us/do for us?What did/do novels like that of Es

Informed by your literary analysis of the book of Esther, answer the following questions:

1. Why do stories like Esther’s attract us? What do stories offer us/do for us?
2. What did/do novels like that of Esther in the Hebrew Scriptures offer Jewish communities of the Diaspora?
3. How can biblical novels like Esther (or Judith, Tobit, Ruth, and Jonah) inform and inspire people/communities of faith today?
4. Describe your experience of analyzing the book of Esther.
5. Another literary genre that would appeal for centuries for Jews and Christians is that of the ‘apocalyptic’ (Daniel in the OT is the classic example, but also extra-biblical books such as Enoch).  After reading “Daniel and Diaspora” by Daniel Smith-Christopher (https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/the-book-of-daniel-in-the-diaspora/) describe the function/purpose of an apocalypse like this.  What did apocalypses offer?  What was/is the political message of apocalypses for Jewish and Christian communities?  (Refer to Conway and Carr on the apocalyptic.)

Submission Instructions:

• Your initial post should be at least 250-300 words for each discussion post, formatted and cited in the current APA style.
• Provide support for your work from at least two academic sources less than five years old.