In the absence of guidelines for "a purely literary study" of the Bible at the secondary school level, this discussion is offered as one English teacher's approach to teaching the Old Testament. Among the unit's major purposes are to increase students' appreciation of the literary and ethical values of the Bible and to acquaint them with material upon which much subsequent literature has been based. Historical backgrounds, themes and motifs (including the characteristic modes of expressing them), and the five divisions of the 39 books of the Old Testament are discussed. Brief lists of references and suggested student research topics are appended. (RD)