Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Wallace E. McLeod. "Oral Bards at Delphi." Transactions of the American Philological Association, 92:317-25.

Contends that the presence of heavily formulaic language in the Delphic oracles indicates the existence of an oral bard in the service of the sanctuary. Extemporized hexametric answers for various occasions draw from an encyclopedic store of knowledge and utilize the traditional oral-formulaic technique. Feels that this practice survived from about 750 until after 400 B.C.
Area: AG