Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

John Webster. "Oral Form and Written Craft in Spenser's Faerie Queene." Studies in English Literature, 16:75-93.

Traces the "illusion of an oral style" (77) to (1) the formulaic use of epithets generically without attenuation to context, (2) traditional thematic patterns in the narrative, and (3) inconsistencies of narrative and character. These qualities create audience expectation and contribute to a "double reading": the poem is complete without interpretation (as an oral tale would be) and yet reacts sensitively to closer analysis. Offers examples of aesthetic features of oral style. Compare Trousdale (1981) on Shakespeare and Ong (1965) on Tudor prose.
Area: BR