The narrative of Jonah offers quite a unique, diverse structure to the reader. The fundamental plotline of this particular book falls into a clean, simplistic four-phase arrangement, as presented in the outline above. The entire book of Jonah is rather compact in nature is nevertheless prophetic, while offering up a moral as well, causing considerable debate in terms of whether or not it is a parable (Hill and Walton 630; Breckner 30-31). The book, on the other hand, can also be viewed as satirical, and is, in essence, a book highlighting details on ways prophets should not behave. Jonah is primarily written in prose, although the second chapter is composed in the form of a psalm or poem in which the prophet was praying to Yahweh. The story flows pretty well for the author really allows one to grasp the message portrayed while being sure to incorporate a vast quantity of action and vivid, picturesque language throughout the work to keep the reader interested as they browse through the text. Moreover, in the
Bibliography: Bruckner, James. Jonah. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004. Print. Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009. Print. Ryken, Leland, James C. Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III, eds. “Jonah the Prophet” and “Jonah, Book of.” Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1998. 458- 459. Print.