Superheroes and Their Ancient Jewish Parallels: A Comparative Study

by Johnny E. Miles

Overview

Persia had Rostam. Babylonia had Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Egypt had Horus and Isis. Greece had Odysseus and Achilles.

Israel had its heroes, too—Moses, David, Esther and Samson. While Israel's heroes did not wear capes or spandex, they did meet cultural needs.

In times of crisis, heroes emerge to model virtues that inspire a sense of commitment and worth. Identity concerns were especially acute for a post-exilic Jewish culture. Using modern American superheroes and their stories in a cross-cultural discussion, this book presents the stories of Israelite characters as heroes filling a cultural need.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476669984
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	03/23/2018
Pages:	225
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.46(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Johnny E. Miles is a lecturer at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
1. (Super)Heroes: Origins, Crises and Psychology
2. The Immigrant as Hero: Moses and Superman
3. The National Icon as Hero: King David and Captain America
4. The Diasporic Woman as Hero: Esther and Wonder Woman
5. The Liminal Avenger as (Anti-)Hero: Samson and Batman
Conclusion
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index