An alternate view?

The concept of “the first significant generation” from Shea may also lend itself to a more accurate understanding of Adam in the Genesis text, though this is neither the time nor the place for a thorough comparative analysis. Adam and Eve may represent the Hebrew “Everyman,” and the Eden account may be the symbolic Hebrew account of what was held to be their “first significant generation.” In other words, the significance of the Adapa story to its audience would have been primarily archetypal, as the Genesis accounts would possibly have been for its audience. — Toward a Poetics of Genesis 1-11, page 224

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This sounds a lot like Walton's archetypal view, doesn't it? The main difference is that John believes that Adam and Eve are actual historical people, but this view doesn't require that. Interesting idea...
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