Exegesis

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Exegesis an explanation or interpretation and is often applied to biblical studies. Cuddon states “In Roman times the exegetes were professional and official interpreters of charms, omens, dreams, sacred law and oral pronouncements” (315). A variorum edition (q.v), for example, contains a great deal of exegesis. Variorum can be defined as an edition or text of a work containing notes by various persons or variant readings of the text.

Baldick states, “As far as literature is concerned, it covers critical analysis and the elucidation of difficulties in the text" (294).

An example of exegesis can be explained when Christ takes a piece of bread and offers it to his disciples. The bread is symbolic, meaning Christ's crucifixion, in which his body will be broken on the cross.

Works Cited

  • Cuddon, J.A. The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. 4th ed. London: Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 1998.
  • Baldick, Chris. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.