Grammar and the Change of Meaning in Words

 

Words matter. Their meaning alone especially matters when understood within a proper historical context. Many today are attempting to interpret the King James Version of the Bible as if its meaning has in no way changed since the seventeenth century when it was published. In reality, though, to understand past works of literature, we often should be  learning how the grammar within them has changed over time. 

The history of grammar goes back to Aristotle. It's interesting how much the Latins took from the Grecians. Likewise, it is fascinating to think about how much the English language has been taken from the Latin one. Languages impact one another, and they have done so throughout history. I like your paragraph on tyne history of traditional grammar. I'm not sure about you, but one of my favorite aspects of this course so far was reading about the history of the Romans and Greeks as these ancient peoples related to the development of what we now know as ''grammar.'' 

On the other hand, universal grammar, and how it impacts every one of us startled me in this course. It is wild to think about how we have learned the language since our births into this world. Likewise, the fact that we all speak different languages across this globe has always appalled me. 

One of the most exciting aspects of grammar is how the meaning of words changes over time. Take, for example, the word ''charity.'' Now, many of us would likely (and wrongly) believe that this word is simply a word for giving away money to good causes. While this has not been the historic definition of charity, others of us still would wrongly claim that this word simply means ''love.'' However, charity, as known to writers like Augustine of Hippo (at least in the English translations from his works), charity meant the love of God. In the more grammatical sense, however, charity means the love of others. The King James Version of the Holy Bible used the word in 1 Corinthians 13. According to the Norton Anthology of English Literature, the King James Version was more moderate in its Protestant theology than other Reformation Bibles. Charity meant not simply love, but good works toward God in general, and this is why the Norton Anthology describes it as a moderate Protestant version: 

''In the passage selected here, 1 Corinthians 13, Tyndale's use of the word ''love,'' echoed by the Geneva Bible, is set against the Catholic ''charity.'' The latter term gestures toward the religious doctrine of ''works,'' against the Protestant insistence on salvation by faith alone. It is a sign of the conservative, moderate, Protestantism of the King James version that it too opts for ''charity (The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, p. 618).''

The word ''charity,'' has meant much to me over the years. It does even more so now as I announce my work on a future publication concerning early Christianity which will be titled: Suprised by Charity. The title has taken its inspiration from other works with similar names written by C. S. Lewis and N. T. Wright. 

References: 

The Norton Anthology of English Literature.W. W. Norton and Company. (2006).

Begining the Fourth Draft of the first Kings and Crusaders Novel

 

As I began my Medieval Art course through Liberty University's programs, I began to realize that schoolwork had distracted me from the focus that I would love to dedicate to my books. Indeed, I wish that I could study Medieval history, art, literature, theology, and philosophy for my whole degree. Especially since high school, I have had to study a lot of other subjects that my interest in is minimal (math, science, etc). As I begin to finish the first quarter of my Medieval art course, however, I realized my strong desire to be able to spend much of my time simply writing my novels on the crusades as I use to do. I look forward to having my final courses in the sciences done. I want to focus my mind on literature and history. 

On the other hand, taking science has made me think more about terms like ''acceleration'', ''velocity'', and so forth--- terms that I intend to use for my novels. Using terms from science and math fit well in for the description of siege weapons moving up against castle walls and trebuchets slinging stone against the defenders (or attackers). 

Finally, I can say that so far, the fourth draft is superior to all the rest. It introduces the characters better than the other drafts did and starts off the story with the feeling that it truly is set in the Middle Ages. Having taken much inspiration from Chaucer for the beginning of the Kings And Crusaders series, my fourth draft reads largely as a work from Medieval literature. While a lot of work is still needed to be done, I am pleased with where I'm at in this work so far. 

How Theology Impacts Literature

Over the years, my writings have been influenced often by the theologians that I was reading at that time. For example, Augustine has had a strong impact on me for many years. I do not know any writer, however, who has not been impacted by Augustine or a religious leader in some way. Indeed, most English literature until modern times reflected Christian themes. 

Literature often (if not always) reflects the theological views of the writer. In the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, we see semi-Christian themes (especially liberal Anglicanism). Likewise, Tolkien called The Lord of the Rings a ''Catholic'' work. While neither of these works is as obvious about Christianity as the Narnia series, the religious views of the writers are found in their works. 1* While some works may reflect certain Christian values, others, are explicitly Christian. 

Obvious examples of Christian literature include The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, Everyman, Piers Plowman, and The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. Each of these works has helped to inspire Christians for many generations. 

But how does theology impact literature? I believe that this question is easily answered by looking at the English literature of the past. For example, it is clear that Catholicism impacted Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Additionally, look as well to the influences of Christianity (whether Lollard or Catholic) in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Finally, look to the works of Jane Austen and see how her writings reflect conservative Christian views on marriage and family. My point here is not to give a thesis. I am not here to prove all that I have just said (much of which I have proved in other articles). Rather, I simply wish to illuminate the reader who agrees with my assessments already. Literature is impacted by theology because almost all works of art (if not all) somehow reflect the worldview of the artist. We simply cannot escape our view of God and His creation no matter how much we may try. 

The philosophies that we accept about God whether from Augustine, Descartes, or Rousseau. will affect us in every way of life---including in our art. There is no escape from us having a view of God because there is another universe to live in than the one that He has made. 

Whatever we do and whatever we think says something about how we see God. Many people wrongly preach that some people don't have theology. In reality, though, we all have a theology of God. The problem, however, is that many of us do not have a Biblical one. Our reverence towards God is demonstrated through us by our choices. 

In summary, literature is impacted by theology because every writer has a view of God. The pen may be more powerful than the sword, yet not even it can rid us of the existence of God in our lives. 

1*It should be noted, however, that Rowling is far from a conservative Christian. Even besides the controversies in her writings concerning witchcraft and adolescent rebellion, she has consistently been liberal on many issues pertaining to abortion and homosexuality.