Recount
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The purpose of a recount is to describe a past experience by retelling what happened and when.
Recounts have a very similar structure to narratives – except that there may not be a problem.
The structure of a recount is...
Recounts are generally...
Recounts often contain...
When you read and interpret a biblical recount remember it is the authors interpretation of what happened.
In this sense a recount is like a diary entry, a journal or a letter: the author has a view about the person, the events or the situation and they wish to share it. A recount is not a report.
Remember also, that a great deal of time (years and years!) has elapsed between the event which is being described and the recount you are reading. The author has had a lot of time to think about what happened and what it might have meant. Their recounting of the event is, therefore, closely linked to what they believe.
How does a recount convey meaning?
When we look for meaning in a recount, we look for what we can learn…about the characters, the actions or about life in general!
In that way, finding meaning in a recount is like finding meaning in a narrative: meaning is not necessarily in the literal detail (although the recount will contain factual information). Meaning is more likely to be in what we can learn about or from the people and the events.
Examples of Recount
Recounts have a very similar structure to narratives – except that there may not be a problem.
The structure of a recount is...
- Orientation (which introduces the characters and setting)
- Description of events, in chronological order
- A personal comment or opinion about what has happened
Recounts are generally...
- Written in the past tense
- Written in the first person (although in the Bible they are written in the third person)
Recounts often contain...
- ‘Time’ words which connect events (e.g. next, later, when, then, after, before, first, as soon as, eventually)
- Lots of description: verbs, adverbs and nouns
- Reported or direct speech (He said...)
- Short sentences to increase tension... or
- Longer sentences to provide contrast and detail
When you read and interpret a biblical recount remember it is the authors interpretation of what happened.
In this sense a recount is like a diary entry, a journal or a letter: the author has a view about the person, the events or the situation and they wish to share it. A recount is not a report.
Remember also, that a great deal of time (years and years!) has elapsed between the event which is being described and the recount you are reading. The author has had a lot of time to think about what happened and what it might have meant. Their recounting of the event is, therefore, closely linked to what they believe.
How does a recount convey meaning?
When we look for meaning in a recount, we look for what we can learn…about the characters, the actions or about life in general!
In that way, finding meaning in a recount is like finding meaning in a narrative: meaning is not necessarily in the literal detail (although the recount will contain factual information). Meaning is more likely to be in what we can learn about or from the people and the events.
Examples of Recount