This study presents a work of theatre art in the form of an autobiographical monodrama, supported by three exegeses: a review of informing literature, one of the writing process, the third of the critical reactions to the play at different stages of its development by readers and audiences. The thesis considers the two questions, How can theatre depict my autobiography? and How can monodrama be used to express this autobiography? The first question implies an examination of the process of writing and producing an autobiography for the theatre. The second question is answered through the process that developed in this study towards the choice of the form of a monodrama. The methodology emerged as the play was written and a journal recorded. At times the approach, particularly as it affected the writing of the play, was more like action research in which the play was reacted to and then amended in a cyclical manner, the writer also developing new understandings in the process. The reflective process was used to help in understanding the development that was taking place. A survey, and interviews with audience members were conducted as part of the investigation once the artwork was presented. In addition, after the piece had been developed to the point of presentation, it was subjected to critical evaluation, The data from the audience assisted in the development of the artwork as well as developing an understanding of the research question and the possible answers or further questions. The Generic Exegesis arose out of the reading, and developed as an exegesis accompanying the writing of the play once the form of the play had clearly become a monodrama. The Generic Exegesis is designed to show background reading that has informed directly the writing and performing of the play, 'The Changeling'. A principal objective for writing the play developed from a desire to help others to understand something of the conflicts and dilemmas facing adoptees towards the search for self identity and its relationship to acting. Part of the conflict for an adopted person was crystallised in Derridas concept of erasure and the use of the trace to recognise the coexistence of both sides of a binary, which rationalised the splitting of the central character into the two traces, Dominic and Frank. My need for control of the outcome affected the selection from the autobiography, the development of some scenes, and was one of the reasons for the use of fiction. The data for the Process Exegesis came from the journal that was kept during the writing, production, performance and rewrites of the play. The role of the audience had emerged in the interview data and one of the interview questions asked what kind of audience the respondent thought the play suitable for. The Process Exegesis shows that part of the answer to the research question is arrived at through the systematic recording and analysis of the processes that were involved in the writing of the autobiographical play. These have shown that artistic worth was increased as a factor of the distance achieved. The Critical Exegesis showsthat the issues that the play addressed such as adoption and a search for identity were also perceived as important by the readers and the audience. Significant contributions to the development of the play were made by the Dramaturg (Dl) and some cogent points were made by a second dramaturg. The respondents who were interviewed reacted to the content of the play, namely adoption, identity and the issues associated with them, as well as the performance. This study investigates the processes of the development of an autobiographical performance from the generation of the script to the public presentation. It shows that theatre can artistically depict an autobiography and that the perceived appropriate contemporary theatre formis the monodrama. The main issue to be recognised as arising out of the play and the process is that the whole project has been a search for identity. That identity is defined in the range of characters portrayed in the play as well as the process of writing it. The outcome of the investigation was a piece of dramatic performance text that I had written and performed, accompanied by a critical commentary on the creation, production and reception processes.

The composition of Joshua 3 and 4 forms the main focus of this study. Although Joshua 3 and 4 have been the subject of many studies, there have been no satisfactory explanation of the many contradictions and incoherence in these chapters. Apart form the literary problems regarding the composition of Joshua 3 and 4, some challenging historical questions arise from the study of these chapters. Therefore, this literary study of Joshua 3 and 4 will not also involve some broader literary questions like the position of the book of Joshua in the Canon, but it will also attempt to answer historical questions about Israel`s past. My hypothesis is that that the final text of Joshua 3 and 4 is the result of several redactions. The original narrative of the Jordan crossing forms the main part of these chapters. This original deuteronomistic narrative was originally part of a Deuteronomistic History that encompassed Deuteronomy, Joshua, and some parts of 1 and 2 Samuel as well as the books of 1 and 2 Kings. The Deuteronomistic History originated in the exile, and was the subject of major editing up to the Persian era. Joshua 3 and 4 reflects the process of the formation of the Pentateuch. The original deuteronomistic narrative of the Jordan crossing was subsequently supplemented by a post-priestly narrative which enhanced the miracle of the crossing. This supplement probably took place when the priestly composition (Ex-Num) was joined to the deuteronomistic composition (Deut-2 Kon) as part of an compromise between rival priestly groups. The book of Deuteronomy was eventually incorporated in the foregoing books (Ex-Num) to form a Pentateuch. As a result of this process, the book of Joshua was cut off from Deuteronomy and became a post-Deuteronomic book. This explains not only the affinities and differences between Joshua and Deuteronomy, but also the peculiar position of the book of Joshua in the Canon. The narrative of the twelve memorial stones (Joshua 4) forms part of an etiological formula, found throughout Joshua 1-12. These etiological reference points reflects the lists of the returning exiles and the builders of the Jerusalem`s walls in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Furthermore, these etiological references reflects the borders of the post-exilic Israel. Joshua 4 is the post-exilic Israel`s way of interpreting the pre-exilic conquest narratives in Joshua 1-12 in order to make sense of their present situation. There are also references to the post-deuteronomistic emphasis on many sanctuaries (which probably served to legitimize the Samaritan Temple at Mount Gerizim. The book of Joshua is not to be classified as history. This study enhances the hypothesis that the book of Joshua embodies the ideology of post-exilic Judaism. In its final form, the book probably served as an attempt to bring a compromise between rival priesthoods and rival ideologies. Although the book had pre-exilic (deuteronomistic) origins, it was subsequently edited to function in a post-exilic context when the people of Israel were facing a new future with new possibilities. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Old Testament Studies / unrestricted

L’objectif de ce mémoire est de mettre en lumière la mise en forme, la réception et la transmission de 2S 7,1-17 à l’intérieur du débat qui a présentement cours autour de la rédaction deutéronomiste, ainsi que de vérifier le lien possible de ce texte avec l’évolution de la pensée théologique juive issue de l’édition deutéronomiste. Notre recherche commence par établir un texte hébreu de travail fiable grâce à la critique textuelle. L’analyse syntaxique nous permet ensuite de proposer une traduction qui soit la plus fidèle possible au texte hébreu retenu afin de mieux comprendre le sens du texte dans sa langue originale. Nous abordons, dans le troisième chapitre, la question des différentes sources littéraires ayant pu servir à la composition du texte de 2S 7,1-17. L’exploration plus détaillée de quelques pistes qui sont apparues à la suite de la critique des sources et de la réception du texte de 2S 7,1-17 par le(s) Chroniste(s), nous permet de constater qu’à l’intérieur des traditions textuelles hébraïques, la prophétie de Nathan a évolué de façon significative dans le parcours des différentes traditions de relecture. À partir des quatres étapes de recherches, nous dégageons les éléments qui pourraient être mis en lien avec les théories existantes dans le cadre de l’histoire deutéronomiste et mettons en lumière les forces et les faiblesses des solutions proposées. Les résultats de la recherche nous permettent de penser que l’intégration de la prophétie de Nathan dans la trame historique s’expliquerait par la nécessité d’éclairer une suite d’événements selon diverses perspectives théologiques. Ce n’est qu’à partir des conditions exiliques que nous aurions le texte de 2S 7,1-17 le plus tardif offrant une réflexion sur la première histoire d’Israël. Dans ce sens, la prophétie de Nathan prendrait toute sa valeur et son extension bien au-delà de la seule histoire personnelle de David ou de Salomon. / The principal objective of this thesis is to elucidate the source materials, the reception and the transmission of 2S 7,1-17 inside the debate concerning the Deuteronomic History, as well as to verify the possible link of the text with the evolution of the Jewish theology coming from the Deuteronomic edition. Our research begins with textual criticism in order to establish a reliable text in the Hebrew language. Then a syntactic analysis allows us to propose an accurate translation and to better understand the meaning of the text in its original language. Taking into account the results from these two first chapters, we then deal with the question concerning the different literary sources which lie behind the text of 2S 7,1-17. A more detailed exploration of some issues ensuins the source criticism and the study of the reception of 2S 7,1-17 by the Chronicler(s), show that inside the Hebrew literal traditions, the prophecy of Nathan evolved significantly in different traditions. Based on the four steps of research, we identify the elements that could be linked with the theories existing in the debate of the Deuteronomic History, and highlight the forces and the weaknesses of the proposed solutions. The research results allow us to think that the integration of the prophecy of Nathan into history could be explained by the necessity to clarify a sequence of events according to the diverse theological perspectives. It is in the conditions of the Exile that we have the latest text of 2S 7,1-17 offering a reflection on the first history of Israel. In this meaning, the prophecy of Nathan takes all its value and its extension beyond only the personal history of David or of Solomon.

L’objectif de ce mémoire est de mettre en lumière la mise en forme, la réception et la transmission de 2S 7,1-17 à l’intérieur du débat qui a présentement cours autour de la rédaction deutéronomiste, ainsi que de vérifier le lien possible de ce texte avec l’évolution de la pensée théologique juive issue de l’édition deutéronomiste. Notre recherche commence par établir un texte hébreu de travail fiable grâce à la critique textuelle. L’analyse syntaxique nous permet ensuite de proposer une traduction qui soit la plus fidèle possible au texte hébreu retenu afin de mieux comprendre le sens du texte dans sa langue originale. Nous abordons, dans le troisième chapitre, la question des différentes sources littéraires ayant pu servir à la composition du texte de 2S 7,1-17. L’exploration plus détaillée de quelques pistes qui sont apparues à la suite de la critique des sources et de la réception du texte de 2S 7,1-17 par le(s) Chroniste(s), nous permet de constater qu’à l’intérieur des traditions textuelles hébraïques, la prophétie de Nathan a évolué de façon significative dans le parcours des différentes traditions de relecture. À partir des quatres étapes de recherches, nous dégageons les éléments qui pourraient être mis en lien avec les théories existantes dans le cadre de l’histoire deutéronomiste et mettons en lumière les forces et les faiblesses des solutions proposées. Les résultats de la recherche nous permettent de penser que l’intégration de la prophétie de Nathan dans la trame historique s’expliquerait par la nécessité d’éclairer une suite d’événements selon diverses perspectives théologiques. Ce n’est qu’à partir des conditions exiliques que nous aurions le texte de 2S 7,1-17 le plus tardif offrant une réflexion sur la première histoire d’Israël. Dans ce sens, la prophétie de Nathan prendrait toute sa valeur et son extension bien au-delà de la seule histoire personnelle de David ou de Salomon. / The principal objective of this thesis is to elucidate the source materials, the reception and the transmission of 2S 7,1-17 inside the debate concerning the Deuteronomic History, as well as to verify the possible link of the text with the evolution of the Jewish theology coming from the Deuteronomic edition. Our research begins with textual criticism in order to establish a reliable text in the Hebrew language. Then a syntactic analysis allows us to propose an accurate translation and to better understand the meaning of the text in its original language. Taking into account the results from these two first chapters, we then deal with the question concerning the different literary sources which lie behind the text of 2S 7,1-17. A more detailed exploration of some issues ensuins the source criticism and the study of the reception of 2S 7,1-17 by the Chronicler(s), show that inside the Hebrew literal traditions, the prophecy of Nathan evolved significantly in different traditions. Based on the four steps of research, we identify the elements that could be linked with the theories existing in the debate of the Deuteronomic History, and highlight the forces and the weaknesses of the proposed solutions. The research results allow us to think that the integration of the prophecy of Nathan into history could be explained by the necessity to clarify a sequence of events according to the diverse theological perspectives. It is in the conditions of the Exile that we have the latest text of 2S 7,1-17 offering a reflection on the first history of Israel. In this meaning, the prophecy of Nathan takes all its value and its extension beyond only the personal history of David or of Solomon.