Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Edward F. Wente. "Egyptian Make Merry' Songs Reconsidered." Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 21:118-28.

In making the case for the secular nature of surviving epicurean songs, he describes "a common stock of phrases from which the singer could draw upon. He was privileged to alter these slightly if he so desired or to add to them. This is a form of extemporizing such as we might expect in the case of a wandering minstrel." (128).
Area: EG