The Gift of Story brings contemporary literature and film into conversation with the grand Christian narrative. This book examines the specific connections between contemporary cultural meta-narratives (the stories humans typically tell about themselves) and the ideas of hope found in Christianity. Despite postmodernism's skepticism about narrative, the dialogue with contemporary fiction, drama, music and film demonstrates that the Christian story can engender and sustain hope.

Griesinger, Emily, 1954-; Eaton, Mark A., 1965-

Ebooks Corporation Limited

United States, United States of America

Waco, Tex, Texas, 2006

March 10, 2006

FR, 2006

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: Narrating Hope In A Postmodern World / Emily Griesinger -- The Postmodern Condition -- Inventing Hope : The Question Of Belief In Don Delillo's Novels / Mark Eaton -- Voices From Within : Gloria Anzaldúa, Bell Hooks, And Roberta Bondi / Anne-marie Bowery -- Time For Hope : The Sixth Sense, American Beauty, Memento, And Twelve Monkeys / D. Brent Laytham -- Beyond Futility : American Beauty And The Book Of Ecclesiastes / Robert K. Johnston -- The Valley Of Despair -- Prosaic Grace : Doris Betts's Souls Raised From The Dead / Martha Greene Eads -- Narrative Bones : Amy Tan's Bonesetter's Daughter And Hugh Cook's Homecoming Man / Elaine Lux -- Hope From A Radio : Jurek Becker's Jakob The Liar / Eric Sterling -- Friendship And Hope : Elie Wiesel's The Town Beyond The Wall / Carole J. Lambert -- Resisting The Night -- A Passion For The Impossible : Richard Rorty, John Okada, And James Baldwin / Harold K. Bush, Jr. -- The Prophetic Burden : James Baldwin As A Latter-day Jeremiah / Kelvin Beliele -- Reconciliation And Hope : Confessional Narratives In South Africa / Susan Vanzanten Gallagher -- Adversity And Grace -- Hope In Hard Times : Moments Of Epiphany In Illness Narratives / Marilyn Chandler Mcentyre -- Geographies Of Hope : Kathleen Norris And David Lynch / Kevin L. Cole -- Attunement And Healing : The Fisher King / Michael B. Herzog --the Gift Of Grace : Isak Dinesen's Babette's Feast / Maire Mullins -- Hope And The Imagination -- The Redress Of Imagination : Bernard Maclaverty's Grace Notes / Barry Sloan -- The Search For Deeper Magic : J.k. Rowling And C.s. Lewis / Emily Griesinger -- J.r.r. Tolkien : Postmodern Visionary Of Hope / Ralph C. Wood. Edited By Emily Griesinger, Mark Eaton. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 357-376) And Index.

The essays in section 1 engage literary texts, both print and film, that reflect on the implications and contradictions of the postmodern ethos.

xii, 391 pages ; 23 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 357-376) and index

2023-06-28