Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [206]-211).

This analysis of apocalyptic rhetoric brings nine generations of the written text of the Johannine Apocalypse into a contemporary (1989-1994) framework which includes phenomena such as self-determination, mutual interdependence and psychoterror. The discussion is mediated by disciplines and backgrounds of Religion and Literature. The critical method is religio-literary. Literary themes from the Johannine Apocalypse, especially themes of annihilation, torment, blessedness and rapture, structure the discussion. These themes are related to ideas of self-determination such as were proclaimed at the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights (UNWCHR), Vienna, 1993. The discussion questions the axioms of self determination, especially the matter of indivisibility which came to issue during UNWCHR, Vienna, 1993. Some policies and practices of the Australian government's human rights activities are discussed. Attention is then redirected to the Johannine Apocalypse as a polyvalent source of apocalyptic ideation and a source of social empowerment.

This analysis of apocalyptic rhetoric brings nine generations of the written text of the Johannine Apocalypse into a contemporary (1989-1994) framework which includes phenomena such as self-determination, mutual interdependence and psychoterror. The discussion is mediated by disciplines and backgrounds of Religion and Literature. The critical method is religio-literary. Literary themes from the Johannine Apocalypse, especially themes of annihilation, torment, blessedness and rapture, structure the discussion. These themes are related to ideas of self-determination such as were proclaimed at the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights (UNWCHR), Vienna, 1993. The discussion questions the axioms of self determination, especially the matter of indivisibility which came to issue during UNWCHR, Vienna, 1993. Some policies and practices of the Australian government's human rights activities are discussed. Attention is then redirected to the Johannine Apocalypse as a polyvalent source of apocalyptic ideation and a source of social empowerment.

This investigation of Miss Porter's short fiction demonstrates that reality and revelation are predominant ideas in most of her writing. Reality for most of the characters differs from reality as the protagonist eventually perceives it. Through revelation of delusions-- both his own and others'--the protagonist may better deal with life's difficulties. These difficulties are represented, as secondary themes in the stores, by three repeated human experiences: initiation, subjugation, and alienation. Subsequent chapters of this investigation explore reality and revelation in relation to each secondary theme. Discussion follows the development of increasing extremity in one's difficulties in life, from the initiatory childhood encounters with human nature and society, to the subjugating troubles incurred through continuing maturity, to alienation and the encounter of death's possibility and actuality.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:47:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leandro Antonio de Lima.pdf: 2560703 bytes, checksum: fab355d9dad62241982f2c450f18345f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-11-14 / The book of Revelation ascribed to the Apostle John, is the last book of the Biblical Canon, and one of the most read and researched throughout History, from both popular and academic perspectives. Its symbolisms and catastrophic descriptions greatly influenced the western world, gave name to a specific genre of ancient literature (apocalyptic literature), and were object of studies, illustrations and romance themes for almost two thousand years. In spite of the book s popularity it wasn t much examined for its literary qualities and the art of its narrative, except by some critics who were more interested in fragmenting it in disconnected sources rather than understanding the richness of its literary production. Even among the scholars who detected the complex recapitulation theory of the book, the literary analyses didn t get far, and was more focused on providing subsidies for theological systems or answers for the distresses of its interpreter s times. A thorough analysis of its literary resources, however, reveals the greatness of its style, the sense of its purposes and the unity of the book. There are rich intertextual relations with the Old Testament, especially with Genesis and Daniel, as there are common features such as repetition, numerology, and cross-references. The book of Revelation also develops a cyclic plot in which the idea of God as a cosmic sovereign who guides the world to the fulfillment of his purposes excels; as well as interpretations for the enemy, the Dragon that opposes to him, thus explaining the paradoxical reality of first century Christianity which was under persecution by the Roman Empire. By considering the art in the narrative text of Revelation not only does the book get much more extraordinary for the reader, but its theological and moral meanings become more accessible. / O livro do Apocalipse atribuído a João, o Apóstolo, o último livro do Canon Bíblico, é um dos mais lidos e pesquisados ao longo da história, tanto da perspectiva popular quanto da acadêmica. Por seus simbolismos e descrições catastróficas causou grande influência no mundo ocidental, deu nome a um gênero específico de literatura antiga (a literatura apocalíptica), e foi objeto de estudos, ilustrações e temas de romances por quase dois mil anos. Apesar de toda essa popularidade , o livro foi pouco avaliado a partir de suas qualidades literárias e da arte de sua narrativa, a não ser através de estudos críticos que estiveram mais preocupados em fragmentá-lo em fontes desconexas do que em entender a riqueza de sua confecção literária. Mesmo entre os estudiosos que detectaram a complexa estrutura recapitulativa, a análise literária não foi além, e se preocupou mais em fornecer subsídios para sistemas teológicos ou respostas para angústias dos tempos em que viveram seus intérpretes. Uma análise cuidadosa de seus recursos literários, contudo, revela a grandiosidade de seu estilo, o senso de seus propósitos e a unidade da obra. Nas ricas relações intertextuais com o Antigo Testamento, especialmente Gênesis e Daniel, usando recursos como repetição, numerologia, referências cruzadas, o Apocalipse desenvolve um enredo cíclico em que se sobressai a ideia de Deus como o Soberano cósmico que dirige o mundo para o cumprimento de seus propósitos; como também a interpretação do inimigo, o dragão que se lhe opõe, explicando assim, espiritualmente, a paradoxal realidade do Cristianismo do primeiro século, que enfrentava toda a perseguição do Império Romano. Ao se considerar a arte da narrativa do texto do Apocalipse, não só o livro fica muito mais extraordinário para o leitor, como seus significados teológicos e morais se tornam mais acessíveis.