Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Gabriel Germain. "Poésie d'Homère et poesie orale des Yougoslaves." Revue des études grecques, 74:469-76.

Denies the uniform comparability of Homeric and SC oral epic as described in Lord 1960 on the grounds of incongruity in verse form, musical line, social position of singers, and supposed quality of the poetry. Also treats questions of verbatim accuracy, fixed versus fluid texts, the influence of published songbooks, possible modes of transcription of oral songs, and aesthetic meaning. As far as literary judgements, he pronounces many of Lord's comparative deductions conceivable but not necessary. Stresses, in addition to structure, "qu'il faut entendre les voix profondes du pathétique humain" (476).
Area: AG, SC, CP