posted
Okay, someone well versed in the Bible, I need some references, please!
I had a very vivid dream last night that I wish to make into a story. It involved someone's name, in the dream it was Deborah, and a "bible verse" which described the holder of that name in a very negative light. The "verse" my dream gave me was "you have the tongue of two asps", referring to Deborah.
So, what I need for the story is a biblical name for which there is a verse which describes the person in very negative terms. Also for the story, there should be a second verse somewhere that points out positive attributes for that person.
And in the spirit of the new forum etiquette, I will be most grateful for any help!
posted
Are you looking for Deborah in the Bible? Or just anybody that fits this sort of description?
Deborah appears in Judges 4-5, though I couldn't tell you off hand much about her role other than the fact that she was a prophetess, so I don't know about the "negative light" thing.
[This message has been edited by TheoPhileo (edited August 14, 2004).]
posted
Any name that fits: Deborah was just the name my dream supplied. Far more important than the name or gender are the two verses, one very negative about the name/person, another positive.
The two verses must refer to the same name, though not necessarily the same person. ie, Two different Deborah's would work just fine.
Thanks!
Susan
[This message has been edited by shadowynd (edited August 14, 2004).]
posted
I immediately thought of Saul/Paul and David. Not women, but they both were good and bad at different times in their lives. I will think on this some more and get back to you if I find something else.
Posts: 471 | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Speaking of David and Saul/Paul there are also verses about Saul (the first king, not the one that converted to Christ after helping organize Stephen's martyrdom).
He gets some serious negative press in the Bible, but also genuine praise. Plus, his story is concentrated in first Samuel, reading chapters 9-20 should give you plenty of verses to choose from (close proximity of the verses makes gives them greater emphasis on the disparity).
posted
This is beginning to sound like Donald Maass' Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook -- all the opposing juxtapositions. Posts: 1810 | Registered: Jun 2002
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posted
Let's see there is Jonah, Samson, also when Jacob/Isreal is giving his final speach to his children he list's their good points and bad points.
Posts: 1895 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I'm only a fourth of the way through Maass' workbook, but I think I can understand how it could put a writer into a slump, Balthasar. The exercises are a bit grueling, especially, IMHO, if you're working a completed manuscript with it. His directions to "Make the change in your manuscript" are a little blunt, as he himself warns in the introduction. He correctly anticipates that with the tension exercise, for instance, "Your heart will sink."
Maybe working a story idea guided by what he proposes would be easier than working something completed or near completion. I'm arguing with him as I go along, but I'm going to see this thing through.
There's a sales course advertised on the radio that proudly asserts they're tough and expensive and not for everyone, but they claim they get results for people who are serious about selling. Braggadocio? I don't know. Maass seems to be taking the same tack. So, shadowynd, I guess it depends on brave you are.
[This message has been edited by Kolona (edited August 15, 2004).]
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