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{{Short description|1961 children's historical novel by American writer Elizabeth George Speare}} {{Short description|1961 children's historical novel by Elizabeth George Speare}}
{{refimprove |date=January 2017}} {{refimprove |date=January 2017}}


{{Infobox book {{Infobox book
| author = [[Chris P. Bacon | author = ]
| language = English | language = English
| country = United States | country = United States
Line 20: Line 20:
| followed_by = Life in Colonial America | followed_by = Life in Colonial America
}} }}
'''''The Bronze Bow''''' is a book by ] that won the ] for excellence in American ] in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.cfm|title=Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922–Present|publisher=]|accessdate=January 3, 2017}}</ref> '''''The Bronze Bow''''' is a book by ] that won the ] for excellence in American ] in 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.cfm|title=Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922–Present|publisher=]|accessdate=January 3, 2017}}</ref>


==Plot== ==Plot==
This book is set in first century ]. The main character is a young Jew named Daniel bar Jamin who lives at the same time as ]. This book is set in first century ]. The main character is a young Jew named Daniel bar Jamin who lives at the same time as ].


Daniel's father was killed in front of him, as an example, by the ] occupiers. His uncle did not have money to pay the tax, so he was thrown in jail; when his father tried to break Daniel's uncle out of jail, they were both crucified. Even at eight, he hates and distrusts the Romans and vows that he will avenge his father's death. His mother dies of grief after her husband's death, and Daniel's younger sister, Leah, is traumatized by these events, possessed by demons but that is just a phrase, and never leaves the house. His parents' death is because of the purchase of a shawl. The children are both taken in by their grandmother, but as she becomes ill and poor over the years, she sells Daniel to Amalek the blacksmith. Daniel escapes his cruel master, running away to the mountains where he is found close to death and rescued by Rosh, the leader of an outlaw band of rebels, who plan to someday overthrow the Romans. They adopt Daniel into their crew, and Daniel begins a new life in the mountains, trying to forget about his grandmother and sister he had left behind in the village. Daniel's father was killed in front of him, as an example, by the ] occupiers. His uncle bought a ] to give to his wife, but that made him unable to pay the tax, so he was thrown in jail; when his father tried to break Daniel's uncle out of jail, they were both ]. Even at eight, he hates and distrusts the Romans and vows that he will avenge his father's death. His mother dies of grief after her husband's death, and Daniel's younger sister, Leah, is traumatized by these events, possessed by demons, and never leaves the house. The children are both taken in by their grandmother, but as she becomes ill and poor over the years, she sells Daniel to Amalek the blacksmith. Daniel escapes his cruel master, running away to the mountains where he is found close to death and rescued by Rosh, the leader of an outlaw band of rebels, who plan to someday overthrow the Romans. They adopt Daniel into their crew, and Daniel begins a new life in the mountains, trying to forget about his grandmother and sister he had left behind in the village.


Several years after these events, Daniel meets people he used to know when he lived in Ketzah, Joel bar Hezron and his twin sister Malthace, who climbed the mountain for the holidays. Joel wants to join Rosh's band, so he promises Rosh that he will be a spy in Capernaum, the city to which he is moving. Several years after these events, Daniel meets people he used to know when he lived in Ketzah, Joel bar Hezron and his twin sister Malthace, who climbed the mountain for the holidays. Joel wants to join Rosh's band, so he promises Rosh that he will be a spy in ], the city to which he is moving.


Rosh sends Daniel out on a mission to capture a slave. The crew names him ] (a character in the Biblical ] with immense strength) for his brute strength. Samson doesn't speak their language, but he sees Daniel as his master/friend and follows him. One day, ] (Daniel's friend from the village), comes to tell Daniel his grandmother is dying. He returns to his village of Ketzah and sees his grandmother. She passes away and Daniel is left in charge of Leah. Later, Simon tells Daniel he is going to follow Jesus and leaves Daniel in charge of his shop; Daniel and Leah move to Simon's shop and home. Rosh sends Daniel out on a mission to capture a slave. The crew names him ] (a character in the Biblical ] with immense strength) for his brute strength. Samson doesn't speak their language, but he sees Daniel as his master/friend and follows him. One day, ] (Daniel's friend from the village), comes to tell Daniel his grandmother is dying. He returns to his village of Ketzah and sees his grandmother. She passes away and Daniel is left in charge of Leah. Later, Simon tells Daniel he is going to follow Jesus and leaves Daniel in charge of his shop; Daniel and Leah move to Simon's shop and home.


Now that Daniel remains in the blacksmith shop rather than the mountains with Rosh's crew, Daniel begins recruiting young men who are around his age to rebel against the Romans. They decide on a password, which is from the song of David: 'He trains my hands for war so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.' They meet in an abandoned watchtower outside of the village and slowly begin rebelling small bits at a time. One day, Rosh gives Joel a mission: he is to find out who is coming to a special banquet thrown for a special legation from Rome. Joel finds out the names by chatting to the servants and slaves of the house, and even after the banquet he continues to do so, passing on any information he can find to Rosh. But soon, Joel is captured. Rosh refuses to help free him, so Daniel and his small band devise a plan to free him themselves. From the top of a cliff, they attack the group of Romans that are escorting the prisoners, but the attack goes wrong. They only succeed because Samson, out of sacrificial love for Daniel, shows up and rolls a boulder down on the attacking Romans and then joins the fight. The boys end up freeing Joel, but one of them dies and many of them are injured. After the fight, Samson is dragged away by the Romans and is never to be seen again. Daniel realizes that in rebelling, they had been doing the wrong thing. Instead of weakening Rome, they had weakened themselves. Together, Joel and Daniel realize that Jesus is, perhaps, the leader they had been waiting for. Now that Daniel remains in the blacksmith shop rather than the mountains with Rosh's crew, Daniel begins recruiting young men who are around his age to rebel against the Romans. They decide on a password, which is from the song of David: 'He trains my hands for war so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.' They meet in an abandoned watchtower outside of the village and slowly begin rebelling small bits at a time. One day, Rosh gives Joel a mission: he is to find out who is coming to a special banquet thrown for a special legation from Rome. Joel finds out the names by chatting to the servants and slaves of the house, and even after the banquet he continues to do so, passing on any information he can find to Rosh. But soon, Joel is captured. Rosh refuses to help free him, so Daniel and his small band devise a plan to free him themselves. From the top of a cliff, they attack the group of Romans that are escorting the prisoners, but the attack goes wrong. They only succeed because Samson, out of sacrificial love for Daniel, shows up and rolls a boulder down on the attacking Romans and then joins the fight. The boys end up freeing Joel, but one of them dies and many of them are injured. After the fight, Samson is dragged away by the Romans, never to be seen again. Daniel realizes that in rebelling, they had been doing the wrong thing. Instead of weakening Rome, they had weakened themselves. Together, Joel and Daniel realize that Jesus is, perhaps, the leader they had been waiting for.


A young ] named Marcus, who Daniel hated, (despite being a conquered ]), befriends Daniel's sister. Daniel eventually finds out and goes into a fit of rage. Leah, who had seemed to be in the process of being cured, falls back into fully being possessed by her ]. A young ] named Marcus, whom Daniel hated, (despite being a conquered ]), befriends Daniel's sister. Daniel eventually finds out and goes into a fit of rage. Leah, who had seemed to be in the process of being cured, falls back into fully being possessed by her ]s.


The story ends with Jesus healing Leah from her demons, and Daniel realizes that "to know and follow Jesus would be enough". He shows Jesus' love to the Roman soldier. Daniel invites the Roman into his home to see Leah. The story ends with Jesus healing Leah from her demons, and Daniel realizes that "to know and follow Jesus would be enough". He shows Jesus' love to the Roman soldier. Daniel invites the Roman into his home to see Leah.

==Educational uses==
{{Essay-entry|date=May 2018}}
Junior high school teachers may find ''The Bronze Bow'' helpful in supplementing social studies and language arts lessons. The attention to period and geographical detail can increase student understanding of both historical and current conditions in Israel. The variety of story telling conventions, including romance, battles, espionage, and friendship, might interest young adults as a lit set or young and emergent readers as a read aloud story. One additional use in the classroom, particularly in parochial or church school settings, is as an ethics, morals, and religious discussion starter — including its critical view of Judaism as practiced at that time.


==Critical views== ==Critical views==
At the time of the book's publication, '']'' said: "The author succeeds admirably in re-entering the era and filling it with entirely human characters... Alive and colorful biblical fare in the well modulated manner of Elizabeth Speare."<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/elizabeth-george-speare/the-bronze-bow/ |journal=] |title=THE BRONZE BOW by Elizabeth George Speare |date=September 1, 1961 |access-date=December 7, 2019}}</ref> In a retrospective essay about the Newbery Medal-winning books from 1956 to 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote of ''The Bronze Bow'', '']'', '']'' and '']'': "All have value, all are told skilfully. If they lack the qualities of greatness, it is largely because their style has a commercial sameness."<ref>{{cite book |last=Horovitz |first=Carolyn |chapter=Only the Best |page= |title=Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books: 1956-1965 |url=https://archive.org/details/newberycaldecott00king |url-access=registration |editor-last=Kingman |editor-first=Lee |publisher=] |location=] |year=1965 |lccn=65-26759}}</ref> At the time of the book's publication, '']'' said: "The author succeeds admirably in re-entering the era and filling it with entirely human characters... Alive and colorful biblical fare in the well modulated manner of Elizabeth Speare."<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/elizabeth-george-speare/the-bronze-bow/ |journal=] |title=THE BRONZE BOW by Elizabeth George Speare |date=September 1, 1961 |access-date=December 7, 2019}}</ref> In a retrospective essay about the ]-winning books from 1956 to 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote of ''The Bronze Bow, ], ]'', and '']'': "All have value, all are told skilfully. If they lack the qualities of greatness, it is largely because their style has a commercial sameness."<ref>{{cite book |last=Horovitz |first=Carolyn |chapter=Only the Best |page= |title=Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books: 1956-1965 |url=https://archive.org/details/newberycaldecott00king |url-access=registration |editor-last=Kingman |editor-first=Lee |publisher=] |location=] |year=1965 |lccn=65-26759}}</ref>


The book has been criticized by some ] and ] groups and scholars for a "hostile" depiction of Judaism as practised at that time, an idealized version of ], and for what some believe to be historical inaccuracies. Written by a ] teacher, it arguably represents ] literature and its use in classroom instruction remains controversial. For more details see: The book has been criticized by some Jewish and Christian groups and scholars for a "hostile" depiction of Judaism as practised at that time, an idealised version of Christianity, and for what some believe to be historical inaccuracies.
* and
*


After critics alleged the book "glorified Jesus and vilified Jews", ''The Bronze Bow'' was removed from the social studies reading list of San Rafael City Schools in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eskenazi |first=Joe |title=Proselytizing book likely to be pulled from San Rafael classrooms |newspaper=The Jewish News of Northern California |date=December 22, 2006 |url=https://www.jweekly.com/2006/12/22/proselytizing-book-likely-to-be-pulled-from-san-rafael-classrooms/ |access-date = December 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Whitaker |first=Tad |title=Disputed text dropped from classes |newspaper=Marin Independent Journal |date=December 13, 2006 |url=https://www.marinij.com/2006/12/13/disputed-text-dropped-from-classes/ |access-date = December 1, 2020}}</ref> The removal prompted protests from some of the district's high school English teachers over "the specter of censorship of the curriculum."<ref>{{cite news |last=Breithaupt |first=Brad |title=All About Marin: Supervisors give boost to pet projects |newspaper=Marin Independent Journal |date=March 22, 2007 |url=https://www.marinij.com/2007/03/22/all-about-marin-supervisors-give-boost-to-pet-projects/ |access-date = December 1, 2020}}</ref> After critics alleged the book "glorified Jesus and vilified Jews", ''The Bronze Bow'' was removed from the social studies reading list of ] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eskenazi |first=Joe |title=Proselytizing book likely to be pulled from San Rafael classrooms |newspaper=The Jewish News of Northern California |date=December 22, 2006 |url=https://www.jweekly.com/2006/12/22/proselytizing-book-likely-to-be-pulled-from-san-rafael-classrooms/ |access-date = December 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Whitaker |first=Tad |title=Disputed text dropped from classes |newspaper=Marin Independent Journal |date=December 13, 2006 |url=https://www.marinij.com/2006/12/13/disputed-text-dropped-from-classes/ |access-date = December 1, 2020}}</ref> The removal prompted protests from some of the district's high school English teachers over "the specter of censorship of the curriculum."<ref>{{cite news |last=Breithaupt |first=Brad |title=All About Marin: Supervisors give boost to pet projects |newspaper=Marin Independent Journal |date=March 22, 2007 |url=https://www.marinij.com/2007/03/22/all-about-marin-supervisors-give-boost-to-pet-projects/ |access-date = December 1, 2020}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
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Latest revision as of 08:03, 12 December 2024

1961 children's historical novel by Elizabeth George Speare
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The Bronze Bow
First edition
AuthorElizabeth George Speare
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's historical novel
PublisherHoughton Mifflin
Publication date1961
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint - Hardcover and Paperback
Pages254
ISBN0-395-13719-5
OCLC438473894
Preceded byThe Witch of Blackbird Pond 
Followed byLife in Colonial America 

The Bronze Bow is a book by Elizabeth George Speare that won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1962.

Plot

This book is set in first century Galilee, Israel. The main character is a young Jew named Daniel bar Jamin who lives at the same time as Jesus of Nazareth.

Daniel's father was killed in front of him, as an example, by the Roman occupiers. His uncle bought a shawl to give to his wife, but that made him unable to pay the tax, so he was thrown in jail; when his father tried to break Daniel's uncle out of jail, they were both crucified. Even at eight, he hates and distrusts the Romans and vows that he will avenge his father's death. His mother dies of grief after her husband's death, and Daniel's younger sister, Leah, is traumatized by these events, possessed by demons, and never leaves the house. The children are both taken in by their grandmother, but as she becomes ill and poor over the years, she sells Daniel to Amalek the blacksmith. Daniel escapes his cruel master, running away to the mountains where he is found close to death and rescued by Rosh, the leader of an outlaw band of rebels, who plan to someday overthrow the Romans. They adopt Daniel into their crew, and Daniel begins a new life in the mountains, trying to forget about his grandmother and sister he had left behind in the village.

Several years after these events, Daniel meets people he used to know when he lived in Ketzah, Joel bar Hezron and his twin sister Malthace, who climbed the mountain for the holidays. Joel wants to join Rosh's band, so he promises Rosh that he will be a spy in Capernaum, the city to which he is moving.

Rosh sends Daniel out on a mission to capture a slave. The crew names him Samson (a character in the Biblical Book of Judges with immense strength) for his brute strength. Samson doesn't speak their language, but he sees Daniel as his master/friend and follows him. One day, Simon the Zealot (Daniel's friend from the village), comes to tell Daniel his grandmother is dying. He returns to his village of Ketzah and sees his grandmother. She passes away and Daniel is left in charge of Leah. Later, Simon tells Daniel he is going to follow Jesus and leaves Daniel in charge of his shop; Daniel and Leah move to Simon's shop and home.

Now that Daniel remains in the blacksmith shop rather than the mountains with Rosh's crew, Daniel begins recruiting young men who are around his age to rebel against the Romans. They decide on a password, which is from the song of David: 'He trains my hands for war so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.' They meet in an abandoned watchtower outside of the village and slowly begin rebelling small bits at a time. One day, Rosh gives Joel a mission: he is to find out who is coming to a special banquet thrown for a special legation from Rome. Joel finds out the names by chatting to the servants and slaves of the house, and even after the banquet he continues to do so, passing on any information he can find to Rosh. But soon, Joel is captured. Rosh refuses to help free him, so Daniel and his small band devise a plan to free him themselves. From the top of a cliff, they attack the group of Romans that are escorting the prisoners, but the attack goes wrong. They only succeed because Samson, out of sacrificial love for Daniel, shows up and rolls a boulder down on the attacking Romans and then joins the fight. The boys end up freeing Joel, but one of them dies and many of them are injured. After the fight, Samson is dragged away by the Romans, never to be seen again. Daniel realizes that in rebelling, they had been doing the wrong thing. Instead of weakening Rome, they had weakened themselves. Together, Joel and Daniel realize that Jesus is, perhaps, the leader they had been waiting for.

A young Roman soldier named Marcus, whom Daniel hated, (despite being a conquered German), befriends Daniel's sister. Daniel eventually finds out and goes into a fit of rage. Leah, who had seemed to be in the process of being cured, falls back into fully being possessed by her demons.

The story ends with Jesus healing Leah from her demons, and Daniel realizes that "to know and follow Jesus would be enough". He shows Jesus' love to the Roman soldier. Daniel invites the Roman into his home to see Leah.

Critical views

At the time of the book's publication, Kirkus Reviews said: "The author succeeds admirably in re-entering the era and filling it with entirely human characters... Alive and colorful biblical fare in the well modulated manner of Elizabeth Speare." In a retrospective essay about the Newbery Medal-winning books from 1956 to 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote of The Bronze Bow, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, Rifles for Watie, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond: "All have value, all are told skilfully. If they lack the qualities of greatness, it is largely because their style has a commercial sameness."

The book has been criticized by some Jewish and Christian groups and scholars for a "hostile" depiction of Judaism as practised at that time, an idealised version of Christianity, and for what some believe to be historical inaccuracies.

After critics alleged the book "glorified Jesus and vilified Jews", The Bronze Bow was removed from the social studies reading list of San Rafael City Schools in 2006. The removal prompted protests from some of the district's high school English teachers over "the specter of censorship of the curriculum."

References

  1. "Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922–Present". American Library Association. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  2. "THE BRONZE BOW by Elizabeth George Speare". Kirkus Reviews. September 1, 1961. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  3. Horovitz, Carolyn (1965). "Only the Best". In Kingman, Lee (ed.). Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books: 1956-1965. Boston: The Horn Book, Incorporated. p. 160. LCCN 65-26759.
  4. Eskenazi, Joe (December 22, 2006). "Proselytizing book likely to be pulled from San Rafael classrooms". The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  5. Whitaker, Tad (December 13, 2006). "Disputed text dropped from classes". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  6. Breithaupt, Brad (March 22, 2007). "All About Marin: Supervisors give boost to pet projects". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
Awards
Preceded byIsland of the Blue Dolphins Newbery Medal recipient
1962 		Succeeded byA Wrinkle in Time
Works by Elizabeth George Speare
Books
Adaptations
Newbery Medal–winning works
1922–1925
1926–1950
1951–1975
1976–2000
2001–present
Categories: