Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Marchinus H.A.L.H. van der Valk. "The Formulaic Character of Homeric Poetry and the Relation between the Iliad and the Odyssey." L'Antiquité classique, 35:5-70.

Raises two main objections to the Parry-Lord oral theory: (1) what seems generic and traditional is really personal invention, and (2) formulas can indeed be employed with conscious intention. Spends the remainder of the essay making the Unitarian argument for single authorship and attempting to illustrate these two principles.
Area: AG