(Well, Art History teaches you lots of things.)
Yep. I'm saying this completely divorced from my religious beliefs. Culturally speaking, it is important to read the Bible, or have a working knowledge of the biggest stories in it; it's the foundation of the Western canon.
A friend of mine wrote a study guide for
Moby-Dick
and the editor had to dissuade her from putting an extra-credit question at the end: "Now do you understand why it is necessary to read the Bible and Shakespeare for a thorough grasp of literature?"
"Now do you understand why it is necessary to read the Bible and Shakespeare for a thorough grasp of literature?"
And Greek myth, don't forget Greek myth.
Yes, Greek myth! We studied Greek myth in school, though.
Today, in Spam, "Manley" says:
I have ssex much longer, because I take Exxtra-Time!
Clearly, Manley spells out his
ddon't sstops.
Okay, I'm not a Christian - but I knew it.
Ditto.
My big weak point for reference is Roman stuff -- which is only ever a problem when, like, I am reading 1926 adventure novels that quote Cicero in the original, assuming that everyone who can read can read Latin.
For criyi! It is an adventure novel! Clearly the author was not 100% aware of his "shaddap I am enjoying the swashbuckle" legacy of his chosen genre.
I just discovered I've been reorged again. As of a week ago. Freaky!
I got a lot of my bible knowledge from L. M. Montgomery books. My attempts to get it direct from the source keep being thwarted by my (totally irrational, I admit) need to start books at the beginning. Why yes, I do give up around the same place every time - how did you guess?
So my Visa Statement arrived in the mail today. And the envelope had been opened and taped up again. Off to cancel my card...