LibGuides: Writing an Exegetical Paper: Formal Analysis (2024)

FAQs

What is formal analysis exegesis? ›

Formal Analysis deals with how the passage is structured. When working in the formal analysis section of your exegetical paper, this section looks at the movement of the text. Be aware that different forms of literature will have different structures. Look for key words and main ideas throughout your passage.

The Introduction of your exegetical paper should be 1-2 paragraphs. It should provide a brief statement of the contents and the thesis of the paper. The thesis should be an educated guess that you refine during your exegetical process.

The following outline is for a 10-13 page paper. If the professor requires less than 10 pages or more than 13 pages, be sure to proportion the various sections of the paper so that every element is included within the page limit.

An exegesis can be structured like any other essay, with an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph explores a single idea. For example, how a certain work inspired you to characterise your protagonist in a certain way, or, how you used symbolism to explore a certain theme.

There are four aspects of a formal analysis: description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.

Begin with a general description of the work, and then move on to the more specific elements. Things to consider when writing a formal analysis (in no particular order): Record your first impression(s) of the artwork. What stands out?

The central components of a formal analysis are medium (materials), technique (how the object was made), “aesthetics” (style), and “iconography” (symbols & subject matter).

Identify the Genre (the Literary Form) Alright, here is our first step. The first step coincides with one of our principles and that is the first step of any interpretation is to identify the genre, to identify the literary form. You simple will misread a text if you do not correctly identify its form.

There are generally four steps of the hermeneutical process – (1) understanding the historical and cultural context, (2) understanding the literary context, (3) making observations, and (4) drawing application. This process can help us approach any text of the Bible as we seek out God's intended meaning.

According to the Anchor Bible Dictionary," exegesis is the process of careful, analytical study of biblical passages undertaken in order to produce useful interpretations of those passages. Ideally, exegesis involves the analysis of the biblical text in the language of its original or earliest available form."

What is a simple sentence for exegesis? ›

Examples from the Collins Corpus

Think of biblical exegesis as the wine. In the midst of the much bigger structured arguments lie countless examples of significant exegesis on specific biblical passages. He continued to teach exegesis, dogmatics and edited instructional materials.

Another exegetical question from Philippians 1:3-5 is, “What does Paul mean by saying this partnership began on day one?” This is an exegetical question that stems from confusion, since it seems really odd to imagine Paul asking for financial missionary support the same day the Philippian church was born.

According to the Anchor Bible Dictionary," exegesis is the process of careful, analytical study of biblical passages undertaken in order to produce useful interpretations of those passages. Ideally, exegesis involves the analysis of the biblical text in the language of its original or earliest available form."

First, you can use the observations and questions you have recorded about the passage to state conclusions about the passage's meaning. Your summary states what you have learned about the passage, what you believe the biblical writer meant, and how the passage may be used.