Abstract
While biblical verse paraphrase was one of the most popular genres of writing among early modern women, it has often been dismissed as merely derivative. But recasting the words of scripture into verse was a recognized mode of devotional engagement and offered women ample space for their own creative expression, as well as engagement with interpretative debates that were otherwise the reserve of men. Though not “original,” in the sense that paraphrases depend on other texts, rewriting and imitation nonetheless require authors to make significant literary and interpretative choices. When the source text in question is the Bible, those choices become particularly weighty. This entry examines verse paraphrases of the Psalms, Genesis, and the Song of Solomon, written by Anne Lock, Mary Sidney Herbert, Elizabeth Melville, Mary Roper, Frances Cook, Anne Wharton, Barbara MacKay, and Lucy Hutchinson.
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Arthur, J. (2023). Biblical Verse Paraphrase. In: The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Early Modern Women's Writing. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01537-4_34-2
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Biblical Verse Paraphrase- Published:
- 22 March 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01537-4_34-2
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Biblical Verse Paraphrase- Published:
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01537-4_34-1