Writing and Literature Catechism

[This is the catechism used in the 5th-8th grade history classes at Sayers Classical Academy in Louisville, KY.] 

Q: Who is the Word?

A: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14 ESV)

Q: When was God’s Word first heard in creation?

A: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light." (Genesis 1:1-3 ESV)

Q: What is the relationship of Holy Scripture (God’s written Word) to the Lord Jesus Christ (the incarnate Word)?

A: Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me.” (John 5:39 ESV)

Q: In what ways is Holy Scripture profitable?

A: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

Q: In what ways is non-biblical literature profitable?

A: Similar to the parables that we see within the Bible, non-biblical literature has the power to awaken the reader’s moral imagination, encountering types of persons and situations we may not meet in daily life, helping us to consider responses that we should have.

Q: What is the purpose of reading literature?

A: According to Sir Philip Sidney in A Defense of Poetry, the purpose of reading literature is the “winning of the mind from wickedness to virtue,” inflaming the reader with the “desire to be worthy” of the life to which God has called us.

Q: In literature, what are the basic elements of a plot?

A: The basic elements of a plot are the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Q: In literature, what do we mean by “exposition”?

A: The exposition is the portion of the story that gives the background setting (the story’s initial time and place) or situation surrounding the story’s action.

Q: In the Holy Bible (our unique example of sacred literature), where do we see the exposition?

A: In the Bible, Genesis 1-3 is the exposition.

Q: In literature, what do we mean by “rising action”?

A: Beginning with an inciting incident, the rising action is a series of struggles that builds a story or play towards a climax.

Q: In the Bible, where do we see the inciting incident and rising action?

A: The inciting incident of the Bible’s story is the fall into sin in Genesis 3, and the rest of the Old Testament serves as the rising action.

Q: In literature, what do we mean by “climax”?

A: The climax is usually the most intense point in a story.

Q: In the Bible, where do we see the climax?

A: The climax of the Bible’s story is found in the Gospel accounts, telling of Jesus’ earthly ministry in His holy birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, burial, and glorious resurrection, as He conquered sin, death, and Hell for all who believe in Him.

Q: In literature, what do we mean by “falling action”?

A: The falling action is the part of a play or story that works out the decision arrived at during the climax.

Q: In the Bible, where do we see the falling action?

A: In the Bible, the Book of Acts and the New Testament epistles serve as the falling action.

Q: In literature, what do we mean by “resolution”?

A: The resolution is the portion of the play or story in which the problem is fully solved.

Q: In the Bible, where do we see the resolution?

A: In the Bible, the Book of Revelation serves as the resolution.

Q: In literature, what are the five major types of conflict?

A: The five major types of conflict are person versus person, person versus society, person versus self, person versus nature, and person versus fate or God.

Q: In the Holy Bible (our unique example of sacred literature), what is one example of a “person versus person” conflict?

A: One example of a “person versus person” conflict in the Bible is when David fought Goliath.

Q: In the Bible, what is one example of a “person versus society” conflict?

A: One example of a “person versus society” conflict in the Bible is when Jesus was opposed and falsely condemned by the religious and political leaders of His day.

Q: In the Bible, what is one example of a “person versus self” conflict?

A: One example of a “person versus self” conflict in the Bible is seen in the Apostle Paul’s description of his struggle against indwelling sin in Romans 7.

Q: In the Bible, what is one example of a “person versus nature” conflict?

A: One example of a “person versus nature” conflict in the Bible is when Jesus calmed the raging storm on the Sea of Galilee.

Q: In the Bible, what is one example of a “person versus fate or God” conflict?

A: One example of a “person versus fate or God” conflict in the Bible is when Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit, as recorded in Acts 5.

Q: What is characterization?

A: Characterization is the method an author uses to reveal characters and their personalities.

Q: In terms of advancing a plot, what are the three main types of characters?

A: The three main types of characters are the protagonist, the antagonist, and the foil.

Q: What is a protagonist?

A: A protagonist is the main character or hero of a story.

Q: Who is the protagonist in the Holy Bible (our unique example of sacred literature)?

A: Jesus, foreshadowed in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament, is the main protagonist of the Bible. Other protagonists in the Bible, like Abraham and David, point to Jesus in specific ways.

Q: What is an antagonist?

A: An antagonist is the person or thing working against the protagonist, or hero, of the story.

Q: Who is the antagonist in the Bible?

A: In the Bible, Satan is the main antagonist. Other antagonists in the Bible, like Pharaoh or Herod, serve Satan (whether or not they know it).

Q: What is a foil?

A: A foil is someone who serves as a contrast or challenge to another character.

Q: Who is one example of a foil in Scripture?

A: In 1 Samuel 17, Eliab—David’s eldest brother—is a soldier in the Israelite army, but he—like the other Israelite soldiers—is afraid to fight Goliath, and he speaks harshly to David.

Q: Why do we write?

A: We write to reflect our Creator, who is Himself an author.

Q: What are the basic parts of a research paper or essay?

A: The basic parts of a research paper or essay are the introduction with a thesis statement, the body, and the conclusion.

Q: How does the Book of Romans model the structure of a research paper or essay?

A: The Book of Romans has an introduction with a thesis statement (Romans 1:1-17), a body (Romans 1:18-15:13), and a conclusion (Romans 15:14-16:27).

Q: What is the thesis statement for the Book of Romans?

A: The thesis statement for the Book of Romans is that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:16-17)