Poetic Grounds of Epic Formulae
Abstract
The study of oral formulae in the twentieth century had several phases. After the initial - very stimulating and influential - research by M. Parry and A. B. Lord, who focused on the technique of composing the poem and the mnemotechnic function of formulae, the focus at first shifted to the concept of performance (J. M. Foley), and then to the mental text (L. Honko), which introduced into research horizons social, ideological, psychological and mental conditions of improvisation, interaction between the singer and the audience, collective and individual factors of memorising, cultural representation, and the like. Although all the abovementioned aspects undoubtedly determine the structure of a specific variant, it should be kept in mind that formulae transcend concrete improvisations and connect different epic zones, different local traditions and different times. The formula precedes verbal improvisation both chronologically and logically. Therefore - before explaining the repeating o...f formulae by the needs and nature of improvisation (composition-in-performance) or the generating of formulae in specific variants by textualisation of mental text - we must explain the existence of the formula in the first place. This paper seeks to point out the complex system of factors that determine the genesis of formulae. Formulae are regarded as cultural codes, which combine elements from different spheres (the conceptualization of space, time, colour and so on, elements of rituals, customary norms, historical experience, life realities, ethics, etc.). Therefore, their structure is described in terms of hidden knowledge, hidden complexity, frame semantics, the tip of the iceberg, compressed meanings. Meanings 'compressed' in the formulae are upgraded with new 'income' in every new/concrete realisation (i.e. poem) and this is the area where aesthetics rivals poetics.
Keywords:
oral formulae / oral epics / poetics / conceptualization of space and time / South Slavic tradition / folkloreSource:
Balcanica, 2013, XLIV, 51-78Publisher:
- Belgrade : Institute for Balkan Studies, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Funding / projects:
- Serbian Oral Tradition in an Intercultural Code (RS-178011)
Institution/Community
Балканолошки институт САНУ / Institute for Balkan Studies SASATY - JOUR AU - Delić, Lidija PY - 2013 UR - https://dais.sanu.ac.rs/123456789/4356 AB - The study of oral formulae in the twentieth century had several phases. After the initial - very stimulating and influential - research by M. Parry and A. B. Lord, who focused on the technique of composing the poem and the mnemotechnic function of formulae, the focus at first shifted to the concept of performance (J. M. Foley), and then to the mental text (L. Honko), which introduced into research horizons social, ideological, psychological and mental conditions of improvisation, interaction between the singer and the audience, collective and individual factors of memorising, cultural representation, and the like. Although all the abovementioned aspects undoubtedly determine the structure of a specific variant, it should be kept in mind that formulae transcend concrete improvisations and connect different epic zones, different local traditions and different times. The formula precedes verbal improvisation both chronologically and logically. Therefore - before explaining the repeating of formulae by the needs and nature of improvisation (composition-in-performance) or the generating of formulae in specific variants by textualisation of mental text - we must explain the existence of the formula in the first place. This paper seeks to point out the complex system of factors that determine the genesis of formulae. Formulae are regarded as cultural codes, which combine elements from different spheres (the conceptualization of space, time, colour and so on, elements of rituals, customary norms, historical experience, life realities, ethics, etc.). Therefore, their structure is described in terms of hidden knowledge, hidden complexity, frame semantics, the tip of the iceberg, compressed meanings. Meanings 'compressed' in the formulae are upgraded with new 'income' in every new/concrete realisation (i.e. poem) and this is the area where aesthetics rivals poetics. PB - Belgrade : Institute for Balkan Studies, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts T2 - Balcanica T1 - Poetic Grounds of Epic Formulae SP - 51 EP - 78 IS - XLIV DO - 10.2298/BALC1344051D UR - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_4356 ER -
@article{ author = "Delić, Lidija", year = "2013", abstract = "The study of oral formulae in the twentieth century had several phases. After the initial - very stimulating and influential - research by M. Parry and A. B. Lord, who focused on the technique of composing the poem and the mnemotechnic function of formulae, the focus at first shifted to the concept of performance (J. M. Foley), and then to the mental text (L. Honko), which introduced into research horizons social, ideological, psychological and mental conditions of improvisation, interaction between the singer and the audience, collective and individual factors of memorising, cultural representation, and the like. Although all the abovementioned aspects undoubtedly determine the structure of a specific variant, it should be kept in mind that formulae transcend concrete improvisations and connect different epic zones, different local traditions and different times. The formula precedes verbal improvisation both chronologically and logically. Therefore - before explaining the repeating of formulae by the needs and nature of improvisation (composition-in-performance) or the generating of formulae in specific variants by textualisation of mental text - we must explain the existence of the formula in the first place. This paper seeks to point out the complex system of factors that determine the genesis of formulae. Formulae are regarded as cultural codes, which combine elements from different spheres (the conceptualization of space, time, colour and so on, elements of rituals, customary norms, historical experience, life realities, ethics, etc.). Therefore, their structure is described in terms of hidden knowledge, hidden complexity, frame semantics, the tip of the iceberg, compressed meanings. Meanings 'compressed' in the formulae are upgraded with new 'income' in every new/concrete realisation (i.e. poem) and this is the area where aesthetics rivals poetics.", publisher = "Belgrade : Institute for Balkan Studies, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts", journal = "Balcanica", title = "Poetic Grounds of Epic Formulae", pages = "51-78", number = "XLIV", doi = "10.2298/BALC1344051D", url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_4356" }
Delić, L.. (2013). Poetic Grounds of Epic Formulae. in Balcanica Belgrade : Institute for Balkan Studies, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.(XLIV), 51-78. https://doi.org/10.2298/BALC1344051D https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_4356
Delić L. Poetic Grounds of Epic Formulae. in Balcanica. 2013;(XLIV):51-78. doi:10.2298/BALC1344051D https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_4356 .
Delić, Lidija, "Poetic Grounds of Epic Formulae" in Balcanica, no. XLIV (2013):51-78, https://doi.org/10.2298/BALC1344051D ., https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_4356 .