Abstract
This chapter outlines the “discovery” in the twentieth century of oral traditional art, from the perspective of the Homeric epics. It notes subsequent interest in comparative studies of a vast number of oral traditions from across the globe; it draws attention to the theorizing of oral cultures and oral practices (in particular, a questioning of a binary model of orality versus literacy); it points to the complex role that memory plays in the production of oral traditional song; and, finally, it asks whether we can judge oral art by the same standards that we apply to works of literature.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | A Companion to World Literature |
Editors | Ken Seigneurie |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
Publisher | Wiley Blackwell |
Pages | 239-244 |
Volume | 5 |
Edition | 1st |
ISBN (Print) | 978-1-118-99318-7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |