Abstract
The purpose of the present thesis is to show the influence of the Bible on English prose writers. To set forth this influence more directly and clearly a number of representative authors from various periods of English Literature has been chosen. Some of their works have been carefully read with the view to Biblical inspiration. The author has now tried to show the reason why a writer was influenced by the -Bible. The fact that he was influenced, was thought to be sufficient, without considering how it came about. In some instances, of course, it is clearly manifest how a writer came to be influenced and in those cases mention is made of it. Throughout the following pages, a writer has been judged according to the standards of his age, and according to the movements which may have motivated his writings. In some cases this was thought to be unnecessary, due to the fact that certain writers are so well known and so widely read that nearly everyone knows in. just how far they were influenced by the great school of thought and other stimulating agencies of their respective century.There has, however, not been lacking the opinion of some, who declare that a writer can be justly judged by his work alone regardless of the century in which he wrote. This view is quite at variance with that of the author of the present thesis. The latter is of the opinion that a writer is what he is to a very large extent on account of the historical movements, and the philosophical schools in his age. Were Shakespeare living today, in all probability, his marvelous comedies and tragedies would have been forever lost. Some even go so far as to state that were Shakespeare with us today he would be in Hollywood. Be that as it may it seems necessary to present, besides the Biblical influence a few of the important events which may have influenced a writer.