Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Theodore M. Andersson. "The Textual Evidence for an Oral Family Saga." Arkiv för nordisk filologi, 81:1-23.

Collects and analyzes 231 references to oral tradition in the sagas, finding about 75% spurious (mannerisms, rhetorical flourishes, or formulas) and about 25% genuine. Of those judged genuine, there are two significant groups, one having to do with death, old age, or progeny and the other with conflicts. Does not claim that his findings decide the traditionalist-individualist debate, but notes that the genuine references must be taken into account by anyone considering the origins of the saga because they indicate precursive oral traditions about two important and recurrent ideas.
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