You may choose from primary texts including the Pramalai Kallar origin myth, 1 Enoch, 1 Maccabees, and either the Martyrdom of Polycarp or the Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas. You may not use the Gospels or the Qur’an for this assignment. Briefly summarize the story of the text, with an emphasis on the 2 or 3 points you isolate as most significant for your argument, and present what kind of identity it promotes for its community of followers. This identity may be something that concerns in-group values (i.e. resilience, pride, nationalism, etc.) or inter-group comparison between “us” and “them” (i.e. we’re smart and you’re not, we’re strong and you’re weak, we’re right and you’re wrong, etc.). There is some room for interpretation in regards to identity. You do not need to argue the same points we have made in class, but you must effectively explain how the 2 or 3 topics you have noted contribute to the specific sense of identity construction you are presenting.
To conclude your essay, use a couple hundred words to provide a modern-day example of identity construction that is similar to what you are arguing in regards to your primary source. For example, if you argue that an ancient discourse is promoting nationalism, tell me of a modern-day person/group that is constructing a similar sense of nationalism and what kind of rhetoric they use. There will be preference given to papers that use examples containing religious discourse, but this is not a requirement.
Prompt3
Choose one of the primary sources we have read in this unit and identify 2 or 3 points in
the story that are most salient for identity construction. You may choose from primary
texts including 1 Enoch and either the Martyrdom of Polycarp or the Passion of Perpetua
and Felicitas. You may not use the Gospels or the Qur’an for this assignment. Briefly
summarize the story of the text, with an emphasis on the 2 or 3 points you isolate as most
significant for your argument, and present what kind of identity it promotes for its
community of followers. This identity may be something that concerns in-group values
(i.e. resilience, pride, nationalism, etc.) or inter-group comparison between “us” and
“them” (i.e. we’re smart and you’re not, we’re strong and you’re weak, we’re right and
you’re wrong, etc.). There is some room for interpretation in regards to identity. You do
not need to argue the same points we have made in class, but you must effectively
explain how the 2 or 3 topics you have noted contribute to the specific sense of identity
construction you are presenting.
To conclude your essay, use a couple hundred words to provide a modern-day example of
identity construction that is similar to what you are arguing in regards to your primary
source. For example, if you argue that an ancient discourse is promoting nationalism, tell
me of a modern-day person/group that is constructing a similar sense of nationalism and
what kind of rhetoric they use. There will be preference given to papers that use examples
containing religious discourse, but this is not a requirement.
5.1 Contemplate how the trees are
covered with green leaves and bear
fruit. And understand, in respect of
everything, and perceive how He Who
Lives Forever made all these things for
you.
5.2 And how His works are before Him
in each succeeding year, and all His
works serve Him and do not change; but
as God has decreed – so everything is
done.
5.3 And consider how the seas and
rivers together complete their tasks.
5.4 But you have not persevered in, nor
observed, the Law of the Lord. But you
have transgressed and have spoken
proud and hard words with your unclean
mouth against his majesty. You hard of
heart! You will not have peace!
5.5 And because of this you will curse
your days, and the years of your life you
will destroy. And the eternal curse will
increase and you will not receive mercy.
5.6 In those days, you will transform
your name into an eternal curse to all
the righteous. And they will curse you
sinners forever.
5.7 For the chosen; there will be light,
joy, and peace, and they will inherit the
earth. But for you, the impious, there
will be a curse.
5.8 When wisdom is given to the chosen
they will all live, and will not again do
wrong, either through forgetfulness, or
through pride. But those who possess
wisdom will be humble.
5.9 They will not again do wrong, and
they will not be judged in all the days of
their life, and they will not die of wrath
or anger. But they will complete the
number of the days of their life. And
their life will grow in peace, and the
years of their joy will increase in
gladness and eternal peace; all the days
of their life.
6.1 And it came to pass, when the sons
of men had increased, that in those days
there were born to them fair and
beautiful daughters.
6.2 And the Angels, the sons of Heaven,
saw them and desired them. And they
said to one another: “Come, let us
choose for ourselves wives, from the
children of men, and let us beget, for
ourselves, children.”
6.3 And Semyaza, who was their leader,
said to them:
“I fear that you may not wish this deed
to be done and that I alone will pay for
this great sin.”
6.4 And they all answered him, and
said:
“Let us all swear an oath, and bind one-
another with curses, so not to alter this
plan, but to carry out this plan
effectively.”
6.5 Then they all swore together and all
bound one another with curses to it.
6.6 And they were, in all, two hundred
and they came down on Ardis, which is
the summit of Mount Hermon. And
they called the mountain Hermon
because on it they swore and bound one
another with curses.
6.7 And these are the names of their
leaders:
Semyaza, who was their leader, Urakiba
(Araqiel) , Rameel, Kokabiel, Tamiel,
Ramiel, Daniel, Ezeqiel, Baraqiel,
Asael, Armaros, Batariel, Ananel,
Zaqiel, Samsiel, Satariel, Turiel,
Yomiel, Sariel. (see Ch 8 & Ch 69)
6.8 These are the leaders of the two
hundred Angels and of all the others
with them.
7.1 And they took wives for
themselves and everyone chose for
himself one each. And they began to go
into them and were promiscuous with
them. And they taught them charms
and spells, and they showed them the
cutting of roots and trees.
7.2 And they became pregnant and bore
large giants. And their height was three
thousand cubits.
2
7.3 These devoured all the toil of men;
until men were unable to sustain them.
7.4 And the giants turned against them
in order to devour men.
7.5 And they began to sin against birds,
and against animals, and against
reptiles, and against fish, and they
devoured one another’s flesh, and drank
the blood from it.
7.6 Then the Earth complained about
the lawless ones.
8.1 And Azazel taught men to make
swords, and daggers, and shields, and
breastplates. And he showed them the
things after these, and the art of making
them; bracelets, and ornaments, and the
art of making up the eyes, and of
beautifying the eyelids, and the most
precious stones, and all kinds of
coloured dyes. And the world was
changed.
8.2 And there was great impiety, and
much fornication, and they went astray,
and all their ways became corrupt.
8.3 Amezarak taught all those who cast
spells and cut roots, Armaros the release
of spells, and Baraqiel astrologers, and
Kokabiel portents, and Tamiel taught
astrology, and Asradel taught the path
of the Moon.
8.4 And at the destruction of men they
cried out; and their voices reached
Heaven.
9.1 And then Michael, Gabriel, Suriel
and Uriel, looked down from Heaven
and saw the mass of blood that was
being shed on the earth and all the
iniquity that was being done on the
earth.
9.2 And they said to one another: “Let
the devastated Earth cry out with the
sound of their cries, up to the Gate of
Heaven.
9.3 And now to you, Oh Holy Ones of
Heaven, the souls of men complain,
saying: “Bring our complaint before the
Most High.”
9.4 And they said to their Lord, the
King: “Lord of Lords, God of Gods,
King of Kings! Your glorious throne
endures for all the generations of the
world, and blessed and praised!
9.5 You have made everything, and
power over everything is yours. And
everything is uncovered, and open, in
front of you, and you see everything,
and there is nothing that can be hidden
from you.
9.6 See then what Azazel has done; how
he has taught all iniquity on the earth
and revealed the eternal secrets that are
made in Heaven.
9.7 And Semyaza has made known
spells, he to whom you gave authority
to rule over those who are with him.
9.8 And they went into the daughters of
men together, lay with those women,
became unclean, and revealed to them
these sins.
9.9 And the women bore giants, and
thereby the whole Earth has been filled
with blood and iniquity.
9.10 And now behold the souls which
have died cry out and complain unto the
Gate of Heaven, and their lament has
ascended, and they cannot go out in the
face of the iniquity which is being
committed on the earth.
9.11 And you know everything, before
it happens, and you know this, and what
concerns each of them. But you say
nothing to us. What ought we to do
with them, about this?”
10.1 And then the Most High, the
Great and Holy One, spoke and sent
Arsyalalyur to the son of Lamech, and
said to him:
10.2 “Say to him in my name; hide
yourself! And reveal to him the end,
which is coming, because the whole
earth will be destroyed. A deluge is
about to come on all the earth; and all
that is in it will be destroyed.
10.3 And now teach him so that he may
escape and his offspring may survive
3
for the whole Earth.”
10.4 And further the Lord said to
Raphael: “Bind Azazel by his hands
and his feet and throw him into the
darkness. And split open the desert,
which is in Dudael, and throw him
there.
10.5 And throw on him jagged and
sharp stones and cover him with
darkness. And let him stay there
forever. And cover his face so that he
may not see the light.
10.6 And so that, on the Great Day of
Judgment, he may be hurled into the
fire.
10.7 And restore the Earth which the
Angels have ruined. And announce the
restoration of the Earth. For I shall
restore the Earth so that not all the sons
of men shall be destroyed because of the
knowledge which the Watchers made
known and taught to their sons.
10.8 And the whole Earth has been
ruined by the teaching of the works of
Azazel; and against him write: ALL
SIN.”
10.9 And the Lord said to Gabriel:
“Proceed against the bastards, and the
reprobates, and against the sons of the
fornicators. And destroy the sons of the
fornicators, and the sons of the
Watchers, from amongst men. And
send them out, and send them against
one another, and let them destroy
themselves in battle; for they will not
have length of days.
10.10 And they will petition you, but
the petitioners will gain nothing in
respect of them, for they hope for
eternal life, and that each of them will
live life for five hundred years.”
10.11 And the Lord said to Michael:
“Go, inform Semyaza, and the others
with him, who have associated with the
women to corrupt themselves with them
in all their uncleanness.
10.12 When all their sons kill each
other, and when they see the destruction
of their loved ones, bind them for
seventy generations, under the hills of
the earth, until the day of their judgment
and of their consummation, until the
judgment, which is for all eternity, is
accomplished.
10.13 And in those days, they will lead
them to the Abyss of Fire; in torment,
and in prison they will be shut up for all
eternity.
10.14 And then Semyaza will be burnt,
and from then on destroyed with them;
together they will be bound until the
end of all generations.
10.15 And destroy all the souls of lust,
and the sons of the Watchers, for they
have wronged men.
10.16 Destroy all wrong from the face
of the Earth and every evil work will
cease.
10.17 And now all the righteous will be
humble, and will live until they beget
thousands. And all the days of their
youth, and their sabbaths, they will
fulfill in peace.
10.18 And in those days the whole earth
will be tilled in righteousness and all of
it will be planted with trees; and it will
be filled with blessing.
10.19 And all the pleasant trees they
will plant on it and they will plant on it
vines. And the vine that is planted on it
will produce fruit in abundance; and
every seed that is sown on it, each
measure will produce a thousand, and
each measure of olives will produce ten
baths of oil.
10.20 And you cleanse the Earth from
all wrong, and from all iniquity, and
from all sin, and from all impiety, and
from all the uncleanness which is
brought about on the earth.
10.21 And all the sons of men shall be
righteous, and all the nations shall serve
and bless me and all shall worship me.
10.22 And the Earth will be cleansed
from all corruption, and from all sin,
and from all wrath, and from all
torment; and I will not again send a
flood upon it, for all generations,
forever.
4
11.1 And in those days, I will open
the Storehouses of Blessing, which are
in Heaven, so that I may send them
down upon the Earth, upon the work,
and upon the toil, of the sons of men.
11.2 Peace and truth will be united, for
all the days of eternity, and for all the
generations of eternity.
12.1 And then Enoch disappeared
and none of the sons of men knew
where he was hidden, where he was, or
what had happened.
12.2 And all his doings were with the
Holy Ones, and with the Watchers, in
his days.
12.3 And I Enoch, was blessing the
Great Lord and the King of Eternity.
And behold, the Watchers called to me –
Enoch the scribe – and said to me:
12.4 “Enoch, scribe of righteousness.
Go and inform the Watchers of Heaven,
who have left the High Heaven and the
Holy Eternal Place, and have corrupted
themselves with women, and have done
as the sons of men do and have taken
wives for themselves, and have become
completely corrupt on the earth.
12.5 They will have on Earth, neither
peace, nor forgiveness of sin, for they
will not rejoice in their sons.
12.6 The slaughter of their beloved ones
they will see; and over the destruction
of their sons they will lament and
petition forever. But they will have
neither mercy nor peace.”
13.1 And Enoch went and said to
Azazel: “You will not have peace. A
severe sentence has come out against
you that you should be bound.
13.2 And you will have neither rest nor
mercy, nor the granting of any petitions,
because of the wrong which you have
taught, and because of all the works of
blasphemy and wrong and sin which
you have shown to the sons of men.”
13.3 And then I went and spoke to them
all together, and they were all afraid;
fear and trembling seized them.
13.4 And they asked me to write out for
them the record of a petition, so that
they might receive forgiveness, and to
take a record of their petition up to the
Lord in Heaven.
13.5 For they were not able, from then
on, to speak, and they did not raise their
eyes to Heaven, out of shame for the
sins, for which they had been
condemned.
13.6 And then I wrote out the record of
their petition, and their supplication in
regard to their spirits, and the deeds of
each one of them, and in regard to what
they asked; that they should obtain
absolution and forbearance.
13.7 And I went and sat down by the
waters of Dan, in Dan, which is
southwest of Hermon; and I read out the
record of their petition, until I fell
asleep.
13.8 And behold a dream came to me,
and visions fell upon me, and I saw a
vision of wrath; that I should speak to
the sons of Heaven and reprove them.
13.9 And I woke up and went to them,
and they were all sitting gathered
together as they mourned, in
Ubelseyael, which is between Lebanon
and Senir, with their faces covered.
13.10 And I spoke in front of them all;
the visions that I had seen in my sleep,
and I began to speak these words to
reprove the Watchers of Heaven.
14.1 This book is the word of
righteousness, and of reproof, for the
Watchers who are from Eternity; as the
Holy and Great One commanded in that
vision.
14.2 I saw in my sleep what I will now
tell, with the tongue of flesh, and with
my breath, which the Great One has
given men in the mouth, so that they
might speak with it, and understand
with the heart.
5