USML 20 Along the Oral-Written Continuum, Rankovic: Types of Texts, Relations and Their Implications (Utrecht Studies in Medieval Literacy)

Ever since its introduction in the 1970s, Ruth Finnegan’s notion of the oral-written, or the oral-literate, continuum has served as one of the most effective means of dispelling the dichotomous understanding of the two principal media of communication in the Middle Ages. However, while often casually invoked, the concept has never been made a focus of study in its own right. The present volume is an attempt to place the oral-written continuum at the heart of discussion as an object of a head-on theoretical investigation, as a backdrop to distinct processes of acquisition of literacy in different European regions, and, indeed, as a tool for navigating the rugged landscape of verbal forms, exploring the complexity of oral-literary interrelationships that they manifest. The articles probe the concept with a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches, span diverse texts and genres, and involve a range of European cultural contexts, with special emphasis on Scandinavia and Northern Europe, but also reaching out to various other corners of the continent: from France, the Netherlands and England in the West, over Germany, Bohemia and Poland in the central region, to Serbia and Bosnia in the Southeast. Front matter (“Contents”, “Introduction”), p. i Free Access Verbal Marketplaces and the Oral-Literate Continuum, p. 17 John Miles Foley https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4276 The Oral-Written Continuum as a Space, p. 39 Slavica Ranković https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4277 Mapping Public Debates along the Oral-Literate Continuum (1100-1300), p. 73 Leidulf Melve https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4278 The Once and Future King: History and Memory in Sigvatr’s Poetry on Óláfr Haraldsson, p. 103 Judith Jesch https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4279 Old Norse Memorial Discourse between Orality and Literacy, p. 119 Joseph Harris https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4280 Viking Age Rune Stones in Scandinavia: The Interplay between Oral Monumentality and Commemorative Literacy, p. 135 Kristel Zilmer https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4281 How Did the Arrival of Writing Influence Old Norse Oral Culture?, p. 163 Else Mundal https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4282 Liquid Knowledge: Traditional Conceptualisations of Learning in Eddic Poetry, p. 183 Judy Quinn https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4283 The Poetic Edda: Literature or Folklore?, p. 227 Vésteinn Ólason https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4284 The Poetic Curse and Its Relatives, p. 253 Bernt Øyvind Thorvaldsen https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4285 A Text in Flux: St. Hallvard’s Legend and Its Redactions, p. 269 Åslaug Ommundsen https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4286 The Charm and Difficulty of a Fragment: Tracing Orality in Cena Cypriani and Summarium Biblie, p. 291 Lucie Doležalová https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4287 Staging the Text: On the Development of a Consciousness of Writing in the Norwegian and Icelandic Literature of the Middle Ages, p. 311 Jürg Glauser https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4288 “Audire, intelligere, memorie commendare”: Attitudes of the Rulers of Medieval Central Europe towards Written Texts, p. 337 Anna Adamska https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4289 A Carolingian Pun and Charlemagne’s Languages, p. 357 Theodore M. Andersson https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4290 Administrative Literacy in Norway, p. 371 Sverre Bagge https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4291 On Evaluating “the Growth of a Literate Mentality” in Late Medieval Norway, p. 397 Jan Ragnar Hagland https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4292 The Role of the Swedish Lawman in the Spread of Lay Literacy, p. 411 Inger Larsson https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4293 Using the Written Word in a Late Medieval Rural Society: The Case of Denmark, p. 429 Bjørn Poulsen https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4294 The Early History of Written Culture in the Northern Netherlands, p. 449 Marco Mostert https://doi.org/10.1484/M.USML-EB.3.4295 Conceptualising The Continuum. Verbal Marketplaces And The Oral-literate Continuum / John Miles Foley ; The Oral-literate Continuum As A Space / Slavica Ranković ; Mapping Public Debates Along The Oral-literate Continuum (1000-1300) / Leidulf Melve -- Oral Texts And Textual Performances : Verbal Art Along The Continuum. The Once And Future King : History And Memory In Sigvatr's Poetry On Óláfr Haraldsson / Judith Jesch ; Old Norse Memorial Discourse Between Orality And Literacy / Joseph Harris ; Viking Age Rune Stones In Scandinavia : The Interplay Between Oral Monumentality And Commemorative Literacy / Kristel Zilmer ; How Did The Arrival Of Writing Influence Old Norse Oral Culture? / Else Mundal ; Liquid Knowledge : Traditional Conceptualisations Of Learning In Eddic Poetry / Judy Quinn ; The Poetic Edda : Literature Or Folklore? / Vésteinn Ólason ; The Poetic Curse And Its Relatives / Bernt Øyvind Thorvaldsen ; A Text In Flux : St. Hallvard's Legend And Its Redactions / Åslaug Ommundsen ; The Charm And Difficulty Of A Fragment : Tracing Orality In Cena Cypriani And Summarium Bible / Lucie Doležalová ; Staging The Text : On The Development Of Consciousness Of Writing In The Norwegian And Icelandic Literature Of The Middle Ages / Jürg Glauser -- Of Kings And Peasants : The Orality-literacy Continuum And The Advent Of Administrative Writing. Audire, Intelligere, Memorie Commendare : Attitudes Of The Rulers Of Medieval Central Europe Towards Written Texts / Anna Adamska ; A Carolingian Pun And Charlemagne's Languages / Theodore M. Andersson ; Administrative Literacy In Norway / Sverre Bagge ; On Evaluating The Growth Of A Literate Mentality In Late Medieval Norway / Jan Ragnar Hagland ; The Role Of The Swedish Lawman In The Spread Of Lay Literacy / Inger Larsson ; Using Written Word In A Late Medieval Rural Society : The Case Of Denmark / Bjørn Poulsen ; The Early History Of Written Culture In The Northern Netherlands / Marco Mostert. Edited By Slavica Ranković, Leidulf Melve, Else Mundal. The Papers Collected In This Book Build On The Contributions Originally Presented At A Conference Organised By The Centre For Medieval Studies At The University Of Bergen In October 2007--p. [1]. Includes Bibliographical References.