This book constitutes an examination of key sobriquets found among the
Qumran Dead Sea Scrolls. Its primary focus is literary rather than
historical and concentrates on the function of the sobriquets as
labels utilised positively or negatively within the sectarian
compositions. Noting the presence of 'standard' and 'variant' forms of
these designations, this study examines the differing form and
function of the sobriquets across the range of texts in which they
appear. More specifically, it attempts to demonstrate that over time
they underwent a developmental process, changing in form and perhaps
denotation. Adopting a chronological schema that posits a Formative,
Early and Late Sectarian Period, and concentrating on the sobriquets
'the Teacher of Righteousness' and 'the Spouter of the Lie', this
investigation observes a development from contextualised scriptural
typologies towards titular forms constituting discrete elements of
sectarian terminology. A more general evolutionary trend towards a
definite ('standard') form is also highlighted, with so-called
variants representing earlier stages in this process (further
demonstrated by means of a supplementary case study involving the
sobriquet, 'the Seekers of Smooth Things').Comparison of these results
with sociological insights, drawing upon the sociology of deviance and
'labelling theory', suggests that this phenomenon can be understood
against a wider context of labelling practices. Thus it is
demonstrated that the sobriquets function as tools for labelling
deviance and affirming positive counterparts. Furthermore, it is
suggested that the move towards definite titular forms reflects a
process of role engulfment, increased prototypically and the ultimate
acquisition of 'master status'.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780567451187
Publisert
2015
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Bloomsbury T&T Clark
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter