Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Matti Rissanen. "The Theme of Exile' in The Wife's Lament." Neuphilologische Mitteilungen, 70:90-104.

In pointing out the convergence of this work with other exile poems in OE, and in noting both those elements lacking from and those added to the conventional pattern, he establishes the pliability of the "exile" theme (see Greenfield 1955) and of the oral-formulaic method in general. Feels that this flexibility would allow a poet to turn traditional structures to innovative usages: "The Old English singer or poet could freely use traditional and conventional material, both formulas and themes, in creating new lyrics" (104).
Area: OE