Confessions

Augustine draws many parallels between his story and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Select another Bible story with themes similar to those of Confessions, and compare and contrast the two.

Why does Augustine spend so much time on the pear episode over other instances of his sinfulness? Consider literary devices such as symbolism and allusion in your response.

Augustine begins many but not all of the 13 books of Confessions with a discrete prayer to God. Pick three of the books and analyze the degree to which his choice to begin in this way or to jump right into his story serves each.

Despite the wariness with which Augustine came to view rhetoric and eloquence, Confessions is a tour de force as far as both are concerned. To what degree is his emphasis on rhetoric and eloquence excessive or even counterproductive to his goals?

Why was Augustine’s discovery of Neoplatonism so important for his journey toward Christianity? Also, how do Neoplatonist ideas manifest in his perspectives on Christianity?

The years Augustine spent as a Manichee impacted the remainder of his life in many ways. Trace their influence on his conception of Christianity in particular.

Augustine is both selective and deliberate in what he does and does not choose to share about his life, and many historians believe that significant elements of his story are exaggerated if not totally made up. How do these realities both contribute to and detract from his goals in Confessions?

Although some view the concept of original sin as an unhelpful or unnecessary agent of shame, Augustine exudes a sense of relief when discussing it. Using examples from the text, examine the ways in which belief in original sin can be both liberating and restrictive.