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IMC 2018: Sessions

Session 1608: Residual Orality in Medieval Eastern European Christian Epic Poetry: Patterns of Composition and Transmission

Thursday 5 July 2018, 11.15-12.45

Sponsor:Center for Byzantine, Modern Greek & Cypriot Studies, Granada
Organiser:Matilde Casas Olea, Departamento de Filología Griega y Filología Eslava, Universidad de Granada
Moderator/Chair:Simón J. Suárez Cuadros, Facultad de Traducción e Interpretación, Universidad de Granada
Paper 1608-aElements of Orality in Byzantine Popular Poetry
(Language: English)
Maila García Amorós, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Granada
Index terms: Byzantine Studies, Language and Literature - Greek, Literacy and Orality
Paper 1608-bThe Epic Element in the East Slavic Spiritual Chants in Commemoration of the Martyred Princes Boris and Gleb
(Language: English)
Enrique Santos Marinas, Departamento de Filología Griega y Lingüística Indoeuropea, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Index terms: Byzantine Studies, Language and Literature - Slavic
Paper 1608-cOrality and Literacy in the Epic Tradition about St George
(Language: English)
Matilde Casas Olea, Departamento de Filología Griega y Filología Eslava, Universidad de Granada
Index terms: Byzantine Studies, Language and Literature - Greek, Language and Literature - Slavic, Literacy and Orality
Abstract

In the medieval Eastern Orthodox world, there is a minor literary genre consisting of Christian Epic Poetry. Even such paradigmatic works as Oral Theory and Epic Tradition do not mention it. However, Christian Epic Poetry performs a fundamental role in the preservation and transmission of formal and thematic patterns, being a part of a more wide tradition of oral poetry. Christian Epic Poetry can be considered 'residual orality' with regard to its intermediate position between orality and literacy. The function of Christian Epic Poetry is both to maintain the communal identity of the audience and adapt it to change. In this way, the flexibility and adaptability of the traditional formulaic language is expressed. The aim of this session is to analyze compositional elements typical of orality and adaptation processes of traditional formulaic language as well as to contextualize them in the continuum of literary-orality.