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Powers of Genre: Interpreting Haya Oral Literature

Powers of Genre: Interpreting Haya Oral Literature

No customer reviews yet ISBN 9780195117004 Oxford University Press

The Powers of Genre describes a method for interpreting oral literature that depends upon and facilitates dialogue between insiders and outsiders to a tradition. Seitel illustrates this method with lively examples from Haya proverbs, folktales, and heroic verse. He then focuses on a single epic ballad to demonstrate, among other things, why stanzas need not rhyme, and how significance needs time in oral poetry and narrative. Making a controversial claim that an heroic age, similar to that of Ancient Greece, existed in Sub-Saharan Africa, this work will intrigue anyone who works in oral literature and narrative.

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BrandOxford University Press
Pub dateMar 25, 1999
ISBN-10019511700X
ISBN-139780195117004
LanguageEnglish
Dimensions9.3 × 1 × 6.3 in
Weight1 lb
Last updated 2026-07-28 06:12
$277.50
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