The Judas Tree

Many authors have attempted to write a text that will stand the test of time yet few have been successful. Dante Alighieri was the exception. In the early 1300s, Dante wrote The Divine Comedy. It was separated into three parts: The Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. Although all of them were well written, all agree that The Inferno was the most intriguing. Once read, it is quickly understood that Dante’s Inferno was actually a book of revenge against those that were not politically aligned with

A similar example of another painting his Giotto’s kiss of Judas, where a small sized figure in a hooded jacket is turniging his back to the audience. Giotto’s has included the questionable figure to let us, the viewers, complete and imagine the figures face. Religious themes were a common place during Giotto’s

James Joyce’s short fiction, “Araby”, speaks of the loss of innocence when one enters adulthood. The narrator of “Araby” reflects back to his childhood and the defining moment when he reached clarity on the world he stood before. The young boy, living in a world lifeless and religious influence, becomes consumed with the lust of a neighbouring girl. The girl, Mangan, is symbolically the narrator’s childhood obsession with growing up. As she resembles the desire to become an adult, the Araby is the

humble Jewish child. We know that Jesus grew up in the town of Nazareth, of Galilee (Matt2:22-23) (Mark 1:9). Scripture tell us that he grew up with siblings, most likely from Josephs’ previous marriages. They were called James, Joseph, Simon and Judas, and the girls names are unknown (Mark1: 1-6), (Luke 4:16-30), Matthew 13:53-58). In these same versus we hear Jesus referred to as the carpenter’s son. So like most boys in those times

Christmas, to symbolize the birth of Christ; and his renewing light force that leads his followers on the path of righteousness, chosen by them. This tradition was borrowed from the Germans’ tradition of lighting candles in the windows and Christmas tree. The German tradition of lighting and placing candles in windows and trees is practiced to illuminate the way for the Holy Family on their way to Bethlehem. In today’s date, this ensures a year of light, warmth and good bonding in the whole family

The main character in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” is a black woman who resides in the South that clutches on to her belief in God to help her get through the suffering that she endures from her abusive and adulterous husband, Sykes. “Sweat” is full of religious symbolism that demonstrates that Hurston was using the theme of good vs. evil in the short story. In the very beginning of “Sweat” one can see that Delia possesses a very strong work ethic, by the way that she is working vigorously to

tempts the first woman, Eve, to disobey the Lord. The serpent chooses Eve instead of Adam, because she is easier to manipulate (Everts 254). The Lord had allowed Adam and Eve to eat from any tree, except from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2.16-17). Eve gave the fruit from the forbidden tree to Adam (Genesis 3.6). When the Lord discovered that the two humans had eaten the fruit he forbade them from eating, he made the serpent eat only dust, made

A Rant: Don’t succumb to the Objective Chains of Allegory in C.S. Lewis’ Fantasy Literature Novel: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe As we, University of Virginia students, took refuge in Bruce Holsinger’s Masterworks of Fantasy Literature class back in August, Holsinger succinctly defined Fantasy Literature as, “making reality more real,”. Fantasy Literature is famous for its talking animals, magical powers, utopian/dystopian societies, and containing exceptionally imaginative plots. After reading

At first, “The Animals” may seem as a dark poem, that has no connections to reality. Jacobsen’s use of animals as humans detaches the two worlds from each other, giving the reader a sense of indifference. However through Jacobsen’s word choice and tone we can see that “The Animals” has a strong tie to the bible. This is conveyed through Jacobsen’s use of biblical phrases and words, such as “Sanctus” and “the dove flew out of the dark.” The Bible is a collection of texts sacred in Christianity and

and the Wardrobe, there are many allusions to the Bible such as when Edmund betrays not only his brother, Peter, and two sisters, Susan and Lucy, but also Aslan in order to stay with the Wicked Witch in her palace. This is similar to the story of Judas and the way that he leaves the disciples and betrays Jesus. Furthermore, in the same book, Aslan is killed by the Wicked Witch for the sake of Narnia similar to how Jesus is crucified for the sins of his people. Additionally, both