Reference no: EM133309147
Assignment:
Overall Question: Why do you think Roth titled his short story, "Defender of the Faith"?
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, "'Defender of the Faith' is a title used by all kings and queens of England since the 16th century. The title was first given to King Henry VIII by Pope Leo X after Henry's defense of the Roman Catholic faith against the teachings of Martin Luther." When "the title was taken away when England left the Roman Catholic Church," the English Parliament granted King Henry the same title, with a slightly "different meaning: defender of the Church of England."
Question 1: Why do you think Philip Roth chose this title for his short story?
Question 2: Which character, if any character, is the so-called "Defender of the Faith"? Is it Private Grossbart who constantly needles Sergeant Marx for religious accommodations?
Question 3: If we are to understand that Grossbart is a con man, exploiting his identity to get better food, inside information, and weekend passes, should we assume that Roth is using the title ironically?
Question 4: Is it possible that Sergeant Marx is the "Defender of the Faith"? After all, it's Marx who is a war hero, who killed Nazis, and who has the faith and support of his military superiors? Moreover, it's Marx who mediates between Jewish personnel and the military administrators who have scheduled the barracks cleaning at the same time as the Jewish sabbath service, putting Jewish soldiers in a difficult position.
Question 5: Is it possible that Roth invokes the English, Christian title--"Defender of the Faith"--in order to foreground American diversity and religious pluralism? (After all, one obvious difference between the United States and England is that the United States has no state church.)
Question 6: What, if anything, is funny about Roth taking this phrase as his title?
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