1. In an essay approximately 1 page in length, describe the overall structure of the Book of Job, highlighting basic content and form as well as how each successive main section is related to, builds upon, or problematizes what has come before it. 2. In an essay approximately half-page in length, discuss how the Prologue establishes the validity or non-validity of the principle of retribution as one of the main themes of the book. Describe how the author undermines this principle already in the Prologue and further undermines it in Jobs speeches (especially his third and fourth speeches). Describe also how the three friends defend the principle (but also how they hedge their certainty by providing alternative explanations for Jobs situation that do not depend on the principle). 3. In an essay approximately half-page in length, discuss (via comparison, contrast, and development of meaning) the term fear and its many synonyms in the Book of Job, starting with its ambiguity in the Prologue and moving through each of the speeches (not every use of the term needs to be addressed, but there should be at least two examples of how the friends are using the term and at least four examples from Jobs speeches, with at least one example from three different speeches). 4. Each of the speakers has used illustrations or metaphors involving plants and/or animals to make their points. In an essay approximately half-page in length, describe how each has utilized these illustrations/metaphors. Do this for Job last (or in alternation with examples from the friends), and when discussing Jobs use of the metaphors, explain how it contrasts with and undermines the arguments of the other friends. 5. All four of the speakers have used the term hope. In an essay approximately half-page pages in length, briefly discuss what the three friends have meant by the term, and then in more detail, how Job repeatedly utilizes the term differently than they (again, not every instance of the word needs to be analyzed, but several examples from the friends speeches and several examples from at least two of Jobs speeches are required). NB please be specific and must put paragraph number, line number, and page number! NB, it should be marked with numbers of the questions above! NB please use a simple English
