Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

William Whallon. "The Diction of Beowulf." Publications of the Modern Language Association, 76:309-19.

Reacts against a mechanistic view of formulaic diction by asserting the possibility of aesthetic control (irony, humor, etc.). Feels that violations of Parry's principle of thrift in OE verse indicate the relative youth of the OE poetic tradition.
Area: OE