Foreword Very little information is available about the life of Friedrich (Fritz) Bernhard Jeffré. He was born in Nordhorn, a small town in today’s Lower Saxony (not far from the Dutch border), in 1889. As it has long been customary for German students and scholars to move often from a university to another, he pursued his studies of philosophy and the ancient world first in Münster, then… Read more
Appendix VI. The Song of Milman Parry Posvećeno Profesoru Universiteta Milmanu Parry Dedicated to University Professor Milman Parry Bože mili, na svemu ti fala! Dear God, praise to Thee for all! Što ću pjevať istina je prava. What I shall… Read more
Appendix V Example of Father-Son Transmission Another example of transmission of a song from father to son also comes from Kolašin in Montenegro, and, as in Chapter Five, the texts were recorded years after the teaching and learning had been accomplished. The father is Mirko Danilović, 60 years old at the time of recording in 1935, and illiterate; the son is Rade Danilović, 28 years old… Read more
Appendix IV. Return-Rescue Songs A. Parry 1921 and 1940, by Murat Žunić in Bihać B. Parry 6431, by Mujo Velić in Bihać C. Parry 897, by Hajdar Habul in Gacko D. Parry 923, by Suljo Tunović in Gacko E. Parry 275a, by Hajdar Đozo of Bare Theme One: Shouting in Prison A Place is Zadar. Prisoner, Zaim Alajbey of Glasinac,… Read more
Appendix III. Return Songs A. Parry 6818, by Alibeg Begović in Bijelo Polje B. Parry 12417, by Šaćir Dupljak in Bijelo Polje C. Parry 6229, by Avdo Avdić in Gacko D. Parry 6580, by Murat Čustović in Gacko E. Parry 1905, by Franje Vuković in Bihać F. Parry 1939, by Murat Žunić in Bihać a. Parry 6812, by Husein Dupljak in… Read more
Appendix II. Comparison of Four Versions of “Marko and Nina” by Petar Vidić Parry 6 Parry 804 Parry 805 Parry 846 Marko is drinking wine with his mother, his wife, and his sister (1-4). Marko arises early in his stone tower and drinks raki. With him are his mother, his wife, and his sister… Read more
Appendix I. Comparison of Texts of “Bećiragić Meho” by Two Different Singers Parry 12468 and 12471 Invocation. Mumin Vlahovljak 1–16, Avdo Međedović 1–30 1. The scene of the assembly: description of assembly Mumin (17–36) Thirty men of the Border were drinking wine at the gate of Udbina. Mustajbey of the Lika was at their head with seven standard-bearers; Mujo of Kladuša was at… Read more
Chapter 10. Some Notes on Medieval Epic [1] It is perfectly understandable that the oral theory, as it is called, is known best to Classicists, who have been trying to look at Homer from its point of view since the days of Milman Parry. Thanks to Professor Francis P. Magoun, Jr., and to his students, the theory has also attracted the attention… Read more
Chapter 9. The Iliad The essential pattern of the Iliad is the same as that of the Odyssey; they are both the story of an absence that causes havoc to the beloved of the absentee and of his return to set matters aright. [1] Both tales involve the loss of someone near and dear to the hero (Patroclus and Odysseus’ companions); both… Read more
Chapter 8. The Odyssey In reading the Odyssey or the Iliad we are at a distinct disadvantage because we are reading isolated texts in a tradition. The comparison with other traditions shows us very clearly that songs are not isolated entities, but that they must be understood in terms of other songs that are current. Had we an adequate collection of ancient Greek epic songs, we could… Read more
