Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Edmund V. de Chasca. The Poem of the Cid. Boston: G.K. Hall.

S ummarizes a great deal of his earlier work, especially the separately published shorter studies. In Chapter 3 ("Composition and Authorship," pp. 80-99), after a review of Parry-Lord oral theory and notions about monastic influence, he pronounces the Cid orally composed on the basis of formulaic density (p. 89). Also finds three important multiform themes, paratactic style, and a low frequency of necessary enjambement. Posits a series of singers passing the Cid epic along in tradition. In Chapter 4 ("S tyle," pp. 100-27), he finds many other types of patterns, such as narrative formulas, parallelism, and so forth, and believes they should be included in our conception of the oral-formulaic poet's technique. He thus distinguishes (1) verbal formulas, (2 ) stylistic patterns that follow a narrative arrangement, and (3) nonverbal narrative formulas. Notes the possibility of using these patterns to aesthetic advantage. An important book both for Hispanic studies and for comparative research.
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