“Where the Shadows Lie: Finding the Other in the Spatial Depictions of the Underworld in The Book of Enoch, Inferno and Paradise Lost” answers a question of spatial behaviour in the three texts, in terms of the portrayal of the characters of Fallen Angels, who have been Othered from Heaven, in each text within the spatial context of their respective heterotopias. The spatial behaviour refers to how these characters are portrayed to act within a certain space, with that behaviour directly shaped and influenced by the space and place that the characters are depicted in. The question of spatial behaviour in this study revolves around whether the behaviour within the Othered space is that of acceptance, or of rebellion. The narrative of each text is analysed as a whole, in order to be contextualised through a Narratological analysis, as well as a Hermeneutic reading and a contextualisation within the realm of Social-Scientific Criticism. The texts are then analysed in more detail, with particular focus given to 1 Enoch 6-21, lines 1-9 and 22-57 in Inferno, and lines 33-45, 52-55, and 64-110 in Paradise Lost in order to Deconstruct their base similarities and then to answer the research question of spatial behaviour through Critical Spatiality. This analysis investigates the aspect of Thirding-as-Othering, in terms of how the Othered space is represented, and how the (Othered) Fallen Angels inhabit that space, based on the choices available to them: either, accept the imposed differentiation and division, or to resist their own “Otherness” and the Othered space that they were sentenced to. These spatial behaviours depict the choices taken by the author of each text, based on the cultural and religious values of their times and cultures, to represent the spatial behavioural options of their narratives’ characters. These options are the choice to fight against the banishment and make a space of Power out of the Othered space, or to accept being Othered and accept the Othered space for the prison it is meant to portray. This study incorporates a Narratological Analysis of The Book of Enoch, Inferno and Paradise Lost, followed by a Hermeneutical Interpretation and Social-Scientific reading. The texts are then analysed in terms of the focal points of 1 Enoch 6-21, lines 1-9 and 22-57 in Inferno, and lines 33-45, 52-55, and 64-110 in Paradise Lost, and are Deconstructed in terms of the spatial depictions of the Underworlds in order to determine the similarities in conditions, both physical and emotional, that are created by the Thirding, which is ultimately investigated, in terms of Critical Spatial Theory, in order to answer the aforementioned research question. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Ancient Languages / unrestricted

Text in German with summaries in German and English / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-211) / Biblical studies in New Testament are generating considerable interest in the investigation of historical groups, for example by using prosopographic approaches. This thesis presents a new approach to reconstruct the early Christian network in Acts 1-12. We consider the social network analyses (SNA), critical spatiality and Proximal Point Analyses (PPA). Although these approaches show interesting results, they suffer from a global distance measure. Thus, we introduce a novel approach combining SNA and critical spatiality to analyse geographic and social distances. This method represents a valuable alternative to traditional theological tools for answering exegetical questions concerning the social network in Acts 1-12 offering ways for re-thinking and re-interpretation. The network represents the first fulfillment of the promise given in Acts 1:8. Moreover, it allows us to distinguish between protagonists and their influence. Using different distance measurements, we were not only able to describe the high level of solidarity in this network but could also find strong evidences for Peter, Philip and Barnabas being key figures. Acts 1-12 describes mission as led by God and performed by different people with Jerusalem as the centre of activity. This mission is both peripheral and open to people with diverse social, religious and geographic backgrounds. In the novel network of people belonging to the body of Christ human leadership is not important. It was not possible to apply this method to all exegetical questions due to the fact that there are only limited historic sources available. / In der neutestamentlichen Wissenschaft wurden verschiedene Methoden wie die Prosopographie zur Erforschung bestimmter Personenkreise verwendet. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Rekonstruktion des frühchristlichen sozialen Netzwerks nach der Darstellung in Apg 1-12. Dazu wird die Methode der sozialen Netzwerkanalyse (SNA), der critical spatiality sowie die Proximal Point Analyse (PPA) verwendet. Dabei werden die methodischen Ansätze von verschiedenen historischen Netzwerkanalysen zusammengetragen und durch eine Verknüpfung von SNA und critical spatiality eine einheitliche Herangehensweise hergeleitet, die auch geographische wie soziale Distanzen darstellen kann. Dabei finden sich in Apg 1-12 sowohl exegetische Fragestellungen, auf die diese Methode aufgrund der schlechten Quellenlage nicht angewendet werden kann, als auch Fragestellungen, die mit dieser Methode unter neuen Gesichtspunkten interpretiert werden kann. So lässt sich im rekonstruierten Netzwerk von Apg 1-12 der erste Abschnitt der Erfüllung der Verheißung aus Apg 1,8 erkennen. Außerdem hilft die SNA, die einzelnen Akteure und ihr Handeln in der Apg besser zu würdigen. So ist ein eigenes Kapitel nicht nur Petrus, sondern auch Philippus und Barnabas gewidmet. Apg 1-12 stellt eine Mission dar, deren alleiniger Urheber Gott ist und die von verschiedensten Menschen mit der Stadt Jerusalem als Zentrum überwiegend dezentral und offen für verschiedene soziale, religiöse und geographische Hintergründe ausgeführt wird. Sie zeichnet ein besonderes Bild vom urchristlichen sozialen Netzwerk, das wenig menschliche Leitung beinhaltet und sich qualitativ unterscheidet. Die Analyse mit verschiedenen Zentralitätsmaßen zeigt ebenfalls die starke Verbundenheit der urchristlichen Gemeinschaft und den signifikanten Beitrag mehrerer Personen / New Testament / M. Th. (New Testament)