2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Who wrote the Song of Songs? Solomon.
Who was Solomon? He was a biblical king who came to power around
967 B.C. He was the son of king David.
David chose Solomon to be his successor over all of his other sons.
Solomon's end was far different than his beginning however. In his
later years he became corrupt and perverted, which resulted in the fall of
his kingdom
3. BACKGROUND
Song of Songs translates to “best of songs” in Hebrew.
Songs were included in the Bible.
It is easily noted that the Song of Songs is different than all the other
books in the bible, mostly because there is no direct reference to God.
They are a poetic work, mostly about love and romance. They are a
collection of poems about a woman and her lover.
Poems/songs from this time period were performed around harvest
and planting time (they supported the idea of fertility).
4. Hearing the poems read aloud really helped me to grasp the
meaning of them and to focus on the imagery the author used.
I couldn’t get the video to embed, so I will just share the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6uEgKpzqOo
5. USE OF IMAGERY
I think what stands out the most in the Song of Songs is the use of imagery.
The Songs have a very beautiful word play. The author did an excellent of using
his/her words to tell these stories. I think the words the author uses really capture
the beauty and elegance of these poems.
The Songs are written like some of the other poetry we have read this semester,
but I feel like their purpose is tell a story and paint a picture of beauty and love.
Ex. “See how he comes, leaping on the mountains like a gazelle, like a young
stag. “
Ex. “Your lips are a scarlet thread and your words enchanting.”
6. METAPHORS
Metaphors are used very frequently throughout the Song of Songs,
obviously because it’s poetry. These metaphors are bring the overall
beauty to the poems and aid the audience with the picture that the author
is trying to display.
Ex. “Your eyes, behind you veil, are doves; you hair is like a flock of
goats frisking down the slopes of Gilead.”
The metaphors are often used to compare the woman to nature,
because the man sees the beauty of nature reflected in her.
7. HOW THE WORLD
INTERPRETS THE SONGS
Many people believe that the Song of Songs are simply a collection of poems about a
woman and her love life. Seeing as how the Songs are included in the Bible, I have a hard time
believing that there isn’t a bigger picture here. Some religions view the Songs as a depiction of
Christ and his love for the church. I, however, feel as if the Songs are an example of how God
can play a role in our relationships.
Ex. “For love is as strong as death, jealously is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of
fire, the very flame of the LORD.”
This love is a special gift from God, hence the description of love as "the very flame of the
LORD.” (www.answering-islam.org)
The Song of Songs has inspired many to seek and to find a deeper experience with God and
a clearer understanding of His love (bible.org).
8. WORKS CITED
www.bible.org
www.understaning-islam.com
Damrosch, David . "The Song of Songs." Gateways to World
Literature. : Pearson, 2012. . Print.
