First published between 1932 and 1940, this is a three-volume study of the historical development of literature. It explores the oral and written literatures of regions from Iceland and the British Isles, to Russia, the Balkans, Africa, India and the Pacific, placing them in their historical context and examining similarities between them. The authors discuss both ancient and recent texts, illustrating the connections within each group and considering the question of whether all literary growth is influenced by common factors. Praised on publication as "...a work that is not, probably could not be, superseded" (International Journal of Comparative Sociology), the book remains a benchmark for those studying comparative literature or the history of literary criticism. Volume 3, which includes a summary of the literary categories used in the book, surveys the oral literature of the Tatar and Polynesian peoples, along with that of a selection of African ethnic groups.
This edition first published 1986.
Author(s): Hector Munro Chadwick, Nora Kershaw Chadwick
Series: Cambridge Library Collection
Edition: Reprint
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: XXVI+928
Preface; Part I. The Oral Literature of the Tatars: 1. Introduction; 2. Heroic Poetry and Saga; 3. The Heroic Milieu. Individualism in the Heroic Poems; 4. Non-heroic Poetry and Saga; 5. Historical and Unhistorical Elements in Heroic Poetry and Saga; 6. Poetry and Saga Relating to Gods and Spirits, and Mantic Poetry; 7. Antiquarian Poetry and Saga. Gnomic and Descriptive Literature. Poetry and Saga Relating to Unspecified Individuals; 8. The Texts; 9. Recitation and Composition; 10. The Shaman; Part II. The Oral Literature of Polynesia: 1. Introduction; 2. Saga and Poetry Relating to the Migration Period and to Later Periods; 3. Non-Heroic Saga and Poetry Relating to Legendary Characters of the Prehistoric and Later Periods; 4. Saga and poetry Relating to Divine Beings, and Mantic Poetry; 5. Saga and Poetry Relating to Unspecified Individuals; 6. Dramatic and Ritual Poetry; 7. Antiquarian, Gnomic and Descriptive Literature; 8. Recitation and Composition; 9. The Tohunga, Kaula, etc.; A Note on the Oral Literature of the Iban or the Sea Dyaks of North Borneo; Part III. Notes on the Oral Literature of Some African Peoples: Introduction to Part III; 1. Abyssinia; 2; The Galla; 3. The Northern Bantu; 4. The Yoruba; 5. The Tuareg; A Note on English Ballad Poetry; Part 4. A General Survey: 1. Written and Oral Literature; 2. The Distribution of Literary Types; 3. Heroic and Non-Heroic; 4. Heroic Narrative Poetry; 5. Poetry and Saga Relating to Unspecified Individuals; 6. Theological Literature; 7. Antiquarian Learning; 8. Gnomic and Descriptive Literature; 9. Mantic Literature; 10. Recitation and Composition; 11. Authorship; Postscript; Index.
