Includes indexes.

Bibliography: pages 159-170.

1. Poetics and interpretation -- 2. Character and characterization -- Character types -- Michal -- Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11 -- Bathsheba and Abishag in 1 Kings 1-2 -- Abigail -- Summary of character types -- David and his women -- Characterization -- Description -- Inner life -- Speech and actions -- Contrast -- Combining characterization techniques -- 3. Point of view -- Narrative with multiple points of view -- The poetics of point of view -- The narrator's voice -- Character's point of view -- Naming -- Inner life -- The term hinneh -- Circumstantial clauses -- Direct discourse and narration -- Alternative expressions -- Combining points of view -- 4. Poetics in the book of Ruth -- Characters -- Naming -- The uses of the word hinneh -- Quoting previously unreported speech -- The narrator's presence -- Narrative structure -- The abstract -- Orientation -- Complicating action -- Evaluation -- Result or resolution -- Coda -- 5. Poetic interpretation and historical-critical methods -- Source criticism -- Form criticism -- The Gilgamesh epic -- 6. The art of biblical narrative.