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The Bible has been the most influential text in all of Western culture. It's difficult to understand medieval or early modern or much of modern literature without knowing it...

Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University
from 2006 Bible Literary project

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It's not that it's impossible to read some writers without a Biblical background, but that you would miss a whole dimension to their work.

Prof. Steven Goldsmith, University of California at Berkeley
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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I can only say that if a student doesn't know any Bible literature, he or she will simply not understand whole elements of Shakespeare, Sidney, Spenser, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth

Prof. Robert Kiely, Harvard University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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...there is truth in the remark. "without Tyndale[Bible translator], no Shakespeare"...

Prof. David Daniell, University College London
from The Bible in English

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You can't really study Western literature intelligently or coherently without starting with the Bible.

Prof. Gerald L. Bruns, University of Notre Dame
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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...a familiar understanding of Christian doctrine in historical perspective thus contributes to a fuller appreciation of Shakespeare's art, but Shakespeare's art

Prof. Roland M. Frye
from Shakespeare and the Christian Doctrine

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In English tradition and also for an American tradition begun by Puritan writers, a knowledge of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is even more crucial than classical references.

Prof. Ulrich Knoefplmacher, Princeton University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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There is no book more important for our culture than the Bible, and it is fundametal to the study of English literature and language.

Prof. David Jasper and Prof. Stephen Prickett
from the Bible and literature

圣经及其影响

圣经是许多伟大作家的灵感之源,其中最著名的是莎士比亚(1564-1616)。从1589年到1613年,他在其戏剧作品中超过1300多处引用了圣经。早在1794年,就有学者就莎士比亚戏剧作品引用圣经作出研究。

关于莎士比亚的个人信仰和神学观点的看法不一而足。有的趋向把莎士比亚戏剧基督化,将莎剧的理解局限在基督教的框架。也有学者认为其戏剧与神学无关,那些圣经的典故仅仅反映当时的语言环境。当时圣经在百姓中广为阅读,因此学者认为日常用语以至莎剧渗透著圣经经文不足为奇,经文的引用并非反映莎士比亚的神学观点。

现时仍没有肯定的证据证明莎士比亚的宗教取向。我们所知的是他曾受洗及成为英格兰教会(Church of England)的会友,所读的圣经版本为日内瓦圣经。由于当时教会并没有公开研读日内瓦圣经,他的圣经知识被认为是私下阅读中所得。

不管他的信仰基础是怎样,有一点是不容置疑的:圣经的知识能帮助我们更了解莎士比亚。

毕业于普林期顿大学和普林期顿神学院的神学教授Roland M. Frye,在《莎士比亚和基督教教义》(Shakespeare and Christian Doctrine)中认为“从历史角度下认识基督教教义有助于全面欣赏莎士比亚的艺术,但莎士比亚剧并非把戏剧神学化”

基督教的元素可体现于某些莎士比亚作品,包括《哈姆莱特》、《麦克白》、《量罪记》、《威尼斯商人》。圣经的背景知识有助你更深入地欣赏莎士比亚戏剧。

莎士比亚剧运用了不少圣经典故,从以下例子可参见莎剧与圣经的互文性:

有关创世记

有关亚伯及该隐的故事

有关约伯记

有关约伯记


莎士比亚剧中有不少对白直接引用圣经经文,请参看以下例子:

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FIND THE ORIGIN OF IDIOMS

A lot of phrases, such as "two-edged sword" and " an eye for an eye", are taken from the English Bible. Learning the stories behind these idioms is fun, and can help boost your vocabulary. Click here to find out now!

What's in a name?

Common names such as Joseph and Rachel have their origins in the Bible. Want to know their stories before picking the right name for yourself? Click here to find out.