Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Ramón Menéndez Pidal. "Los cantores épicos yugoeslavos y los occidentales. El Mio Cid y dos refundidores primitivos." Boletín de la Real Academia de Buenas Letras de Barcelona, 31:195-225.

A defense of his theory of oral literature as "fenómeno de colaboración, con trasmisión de tema versificado y con trasfusión de numen" (225) in the light of studies of living oral epic traditions in Yugoslavia and central Asia. Takes issue with Lord in arguing that SC epic practice is a craft sui generis with limited application for understanding medieval poetry. Discriminates between "eastern" and "western" traditions and suggests that SC improvisation in transmission may derive from contact with the Turks of central Asia.
Area: HI, SC, TK, CP