Biblical Allusion in Dylan's Lyrics

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. True or false: Before his conversion to Christianity, Dylan alluded to the Hebrew Scriptures in his song lyrics, but not to the New Testament. True False

2. Some have seriously argued that the Joker in "All Along the Watchtower" represents: Jesus Christ Abraham Satan The Apostle Paul

3. It has been argued that the Jokerman in "Jokerman" represents: Jesus Christ All of these Israel Anti-Christ

4. The line, "There's been rumors of wars and wars that have been...", from "Let Me Die in my Footsteps" alludes to a statement made by Christ. In what book of the Bible? Revelation Job Acts Matthew

5. The line "But I know I ain't no prophet / An' I ain't no prophet's son" from the song "Long Time Gone" refers to what book of the Bible? Amos Genesis Revelation Hosea

6. The lyric "And the first one now / Will later be last" in "The Times They Are A' Changing" alludes to what book of the Bible? Matthew Isaiah Genesis James

7. In "With God on Our Side" the speaker has "for many a dark hour" been thinking about what? The manner of Christ's betrayal World peace The indoctrination in his school How he was saved

8. In what song does Dylan allude to the exodus of the Hebrews, singing, "And like Pharaoh's tribe, they'll be drowned in the tide." All Along the Watchtower Lay Down Your Weary Tune When the Ship Comes In Highway 61

9. What Biblical figure is mentioned in "Tombstone Blues"? John the Baptist Delilah Both of these Neither of these

10. Which Biblical figure is NOT mentioned in "Desolation Row?" Noah Cain and Abel Jesus Christ The Good Samaritan

11. The album "John Wesley Harding" draws Biblical allusions most heavily from which of the following books? Isaiah Romans Leviticus Esther

12. Name ONE of the two books of the Bible that Dylan says are the Jokerman's only teachers in the song "Jokerman." (Hint: Both are books of the law.) Leviticus Exodus Numbers Gospel of John

13. In "Foot of Pride", Dylan sings "up on the stage they’ll be trying to get water out of rocks." He is alluding to the action of what Biblical figure? Moses Jesus Christ Elijah Judas Iscariot

14. To what Biblical figure does Dylan allude in the first stanza of "Highway 61?" Answer: (One Word, first name only)

15. In what song does Bob Dylan probably allude to the following scripture: "And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: And, behold, there cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken down unto the ground" (Isaiah 21:8-9). The Wicked Messenger I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine Jokerman All Along the Watchtower

16. What one song probably alludes to all four of the following scriptures? (1) "..and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied" (Leviticus 26:26) (2) "Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not." (Isaiah 42:20) (3) "God will not cast away a perfect man...'till he fill thy mouth with laughing" (Job 8:20-21). (4) "They build upon Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity" (Micah 3:10) The Wicked Messenger Rainy Day Women All Along the Watchtower I Pity the Poor Immigrant

17. In 1987, Bob Dylan opened a tour by saying, "I'm going to sing a song about my hero." He then went into a rendition of what Biblical-allusion-laced song? In the Garden Jokerman Neighbourhood Bully Lenny Bruce

18. Based on a Biblical allusion in "Sweetheart Like You," who might we guess is the Sweetheart's father? Israel Satan God Anti Christ

19. In "The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar," which of the following does the groom most likely represent? Jacob Satan Jesus Christ John the Baptist

20. What Biblical character is mentioned by name in "Every Grain of Sand"? Cain Noah Jesus Christ Abraham