Narrative technique: In Mark, every word is carefully chosen, none is too many.

1. Symbolism: The first poetic device is symbolism. We are forced to ask ourselves the question: Is what is signified what is meant?

In the parables of Mark 4 this is obviously not the case, a parable points beyond itself to another, more difficult to understand matter.

But what is parable, what is history? Is the stilling of the storm, which crowns and concludes the parable chapter, a historical account or a parable?

(to be continued)