Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Theodore M. Andersson. "The Doctrine of Oral Tradition in the Chanson de Geste and Saga." Scandinavian Studies, 34:219-36.

Pointing out the origin of oral theory in classical studies (HÇdelin 1715, Wolf 1795, etc.) and its common application in an early form by 1830 to medieval European literatures, he sketches the history of the study of Old French and Old Norse literature as oral tradition from Fauriel's initial steps and Herder's doctrine of Naturpoesie through Bédier, Lachmann, and Nordal. Feels that the concept of oral tradition should not be blindly accepted but scrutinized more closely, especially by scholars working with the sagas.
Area: OF, ON, CP