This approach is so much different than than the narrative approach I looked into! I'm suprised to see that a primary criticism for the social-scientific method is that it is too subjective. It seems to have elements that are so measurable with cultural and historical study that it would tend to be less subjective.

This Biblical approach was new to me before I came to Iliff and I have so appreciated working with this lens. Although it relates to feminine considerations, reading again about the goals of this approach make me think of how it relates to the movement to make ourselves aware of white privilege and the related domination and exploitation of white privilege.

Narrative Criticism is a modern critical approach to Biblical reading. It treats the text as a whole, rather than in parts such as is common in the more historical critical approaches of the 18th century and beyond. European and American literary scholars began to work seriously with this approach in the 1960's and 70's…and it found its way into Biblical criticism through the work of Alter and others in the 1980's.
Narrative Criticism considers the effects of a literary work that tells a story. It focuses on the narrative itself, including such elements of the story as: events, characters, setting, plot (the interaction of the characters), implied author and implied reader. An important distinction here is that the elements of the story are the "what" of a narrative; this is in contrast to the "how" of a narrative or how the story is told. In other words, narrative criticism focuses on the story itself and not on the rhetorical elements. It is a method of reading the text that wonders about the details or elements of the text; such as wondering what order the characters and events appear what information they give to the reader, and so on. Narrative critical readings attend to the "being" of a story…its presence and transformative power. This quality transcends and reading that would confine it to a historical place in time.

Scholars who exemplify this approach: Robert Alter, Mark Allan Powell, Elizabeth Struthers Malbon

Great description of the evolution of narrative criticism as well as aspects of the narrative model.

includes section on elements of the narrative which is a great summary and useful on the way to understanding narratice criticism as a whole.

Views Mark as a story, not with an agenda of interpretation but to show how narrative criticism can illuminate a text

Includes overview of narrative criticism with recommended resources that are foundational reading.

useful handbook

appears to be a good reference in entering the discussion of how narrative criticism fits into the broader heading of literary criticism.

an academic writing, but useful for its discussion on using literary approaches to biblical narratives. Comprehensive Bibiliography helpful.

Discusses how the author has used things like rhetorical devices, setting, characterization, point of view and plot as ways of conveying a message and shaping readers.

Does not contain a specific chapter on narrative criticism; however it details the literary critical approach from which narrative criticism developed.

Small volume, also helpful as beginning look at exegesis

Chapter on narrative Criticism addresses five issues: 1. definition, terms, concepts 2. the method in relation to other methods 3. the method "in action' using a particular text 4. drawbacks of the methods 5. additional suggested readings

section on narrative criticsm. Good discussion on narrative world not being identical to the real world; implied author shaping story world by selecting (and excluding) events.

catchy illustrations for those entering thinking about narrative criticism. Written for general audience, not necessarily for academic audience. Makes good introductory use of beginning terms and graphics.

nontechnical description of the principles and procedures of narrative criticism. Written for students' and pastors' use in their own exegesis.