The Hymnal

The Hymnal

by Christopher N. Phillips

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"Christopher N. Phillips' The Hymnbook offers the first extended historical treatment of the hymn as a read text, rather than one used solely for singing. His book demonstrates the ways that hymnbooks were used for individual expression and even the forming of corporate identity. He reframes the history of children's literature by placing the bestselling genre of children's hymnbooks at the center and offers new evidence from the Dickinson family's reading and worship practices to show how authors like Emily Dickinson used hymns to make poems. Phillips presents a longer history of devotional reading that informed the rise of hymnbook culture in the early eighteenth century and approaches the hymnbook as a media form nearly as ubiquitous as the almanac, as well as an object that shared its life with its owners and users" --

Discussion questions for The Hymnal

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  1. 1

    Phillips argues for understanding hymns primarily as "read texts" rather than solely sung. How does this reframe our perception of their cultural impact, and what evidence or examples presented in the book did you find most compelling?

  2. 2

    The book explores how hymnbooks fostered both individual expression and a sense of corporate identity. Can you recall any personal experiences with shared texts—whether songbooks, prayer books, or even secular anthologies—that similarly shaped both your private thoughts and your connection to a group?

  3. 3

    By placing children's hymnbooks at the center of a "bestselling genre," Phillips challenges conventional histories of children's literature. What implications does this argument have for how we categorize and appreciate texts intended for young readers?

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