Why this work is a good example:
* Allegory: The entire novel is a homily, using the allegory of Christian's journey to the Celestial City to teach spiritual lessons.
* Moral Guidance: The story is filled with moments where characters like Evangelist, Faithful, and Hopeful deliver speeches and sermons that offer direct moral guidance and spiritual insight.
* Focus on Sin and Salvation: The story explores themes of sin, repentance, temptation, and the importance of faith, making it a perfect example of a homiletic work.
Here's a specific example from the book:
In the "Valley of the Shadow of Death," Christian encounters Apollyon, the embodiment of evil. During their fight, Christian is reminded of his faith by the Evangelist's earlier words: "There are three things that thou must be sure to do: 1. Thou must give earnest heed to what I have said to thee. 2. Thou must choose thy company. 3. Thou must not be weary in thy journey". This reminder helps Christian persevere and ultimately defeat Apollyon.
This example highlights the didactic purpose of the homily in "The Pilgrim's Progress." It uses the narrative to offer a lesson about relying on faith and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Other examples:
* "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer: The tales themselves often serve as homilies, offering moral and religious lessons within a framework of entertaining stories.
* "Everyman": This morality play uses allegorical characters to deliver homiletic messages about death, judgment, and the importance of good deeds.
These examples demonstrate the versatility of homily as a literary device, spanning different genres and periods, and showcasing the power of storytelling to convey spiritual truths.