Children's biblical literature in dialog : a narrative analysis and critical study of the children's bible reader and its message

Abstract

The Childrens Bible Reader is an Orthodox childrens compilation of Bible narratives that have been adapted in order to be suitable for children. The question raised in this thesis dissertation is whether the message of these stories in this adapted version remains faithful to their original form; if it is consistent to the message conveyed by Scripture. The thesis presented is that the message has been distorted, and therefore is not conveyed in its fullness –at least in a narrative perspective. In order to prove this thesis, two stories were analyzed using the method of narrative analysis, and their analysis compared to an analysis of their original form in the Bible. This method was used because it is believed that through it, one can identify the narrative elements that make up the story –specifically the plot, the characters, the actants, and the setting– in order to be evaluated. Later, a comparison of these narrative elements to those of their original form will determine if anything from the narrative has been changed, modified, or omitted. If there is a change in any of these essential elements of the narrative, then the story and its message has changed and is no longer faithful to its original form in the Bible. The results obtained were that indeed, very important narrative elements had changed. Therefore, these stories no longer provide a message consistent to that of their original form in the Bible. There is more to be researched about the Bible and its pedagogical use or benefits with children, which could lead to the production of a childrens Bible that accomplishes the goal of conveying a unified message and set of ideas as its original version for adults.