04_Biblica_1_A_Ossandon_Layout 1 05/11/12 12:18 Pagina 387 387 BARTIMAEUS’ FAITH lack of understanding. John and James seem to have listened only to Jesus’ words in 8,38‒9,1. They have not heeded the word “cross” and, as well as the other ten, they have not understood the invitation to service (9,35). Jesus’ answer reflects that he considers God’s point of view to be above his own 24. If the section on the way ended in Mark 10,45, one should speak of the failure of Jesus’ teaching. III. Plot and Characters in Mark 10,46-52 Several divisions of the Bartimaeus episode have been proposed based on narrative or structural criteria 25. But every outline shows some problems. In fact, none of the schemes developed by modern narratology seem to suit this episode 26. I would suggest that this difficulty arises because two different kinds of plot are present in Mark 10,46-52: a “plot of resolution” and a “plot of revelation”. Briefly, when the plot is of resolution, the pertinent question is: “what is going to happen?” On the con- trary, if the narration follows a plot of revelation or recognition, the concatenation of events becomes less relevant with respect to the details that reflect the protagonist’s personality 27. These two kinds of plot can be combined within a story. This possibility helps to understand many Gospel narratives, because Jesus’ actions not only solve a complication, but also contribute to manifesting his identity 28. 24 Cf. KINGSBURY, Christology, 49. 25 See H.D. BETZ, “The Early Christian Miracle Story: Some Observations on the Form Critical Problem”, Semeia 11 (1978) 69-81, esp. 72-74; H.-J. ECK- STEIN, “Markus 10,46-52 als Schlüsseltext des Markusevangeliums”, ZNW 87 (1996) 33-50, esp. 39; SALVATORE, E vedeva, 250-251; A. MPEVO MPOLO, Genre, sens, position et fonction littéraire des récits marciens de surdi-mutité et de cécité. Mc 7,31-37; Mc 8,22-26; Mc 9,14-29; Mc 10,46-52: critique de rédaction et analyse structurelle (EBib Nouvelle Série 54; Paris 2004) 379-386. 26 For an overview of these schemes, see MARGUERAT ‒ BOURQUIN, Pour lire, 53-67. 27 S. CHATMAN, Story and Discourse. Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film (Ithaca, NY 1978) 48. 28 J.-N. ALETTI, L’art de raconter Jésus Christ. L’écriture narrative de l’évangile de Luc (Paris 1989) 59-60 and passim (about Luke’s plot); see also MARGUERAT ‒ BOURQUIN, Pour lire, 72-74.