The Growth of Literature, Volume 2

Hector Munro Chadwick (1870-1947) was professor of Anglo-Saxon at the University of Cambridge and a pioneer in integrating the study of Old English with archaeology and history.

A pioneering comparative study in three volumes, published 1932 1940, covering the development of world literature from Iceland to Polynesia.

Preface; Corrigenda; Explanatory note on 'types' and 'saga'; Part I. Russian Oral Literature: 1. Introduction. Oral tradition and writing; 2. Heroic poetry. The Byliny; 3. The heroic milieu. Individualism in the heroic poems; 4. Historical and unhistorical elements in the Byliny; 5. The texts; 6. Saga; 7. Non-heroic poetry. The Stikhi (1); 8. Poetry relating to scriptural subjects and to the saints of the Greek church. The Stikhi (2); 9. Post-heroic, antiquarian, gnomic and descriptive poetry and saga; 10. Poetry relating to unspecified individuals; 11. The recitation and composition of heroic poetry and saga. The Skaziteli; 12. The recitation and composition of religious poetry. The Kalêki; 13. The popular poet and story-teller; List of abbreviations used in Part I; Part II. Yugoslav Oral Poetry: 1. Introduction. Literature and writing; 2. Heroic poetry; 3. Non-heroic poetry; 4. The heroic milieu. Individualism; 5. Unhistorical elements in heroic poetry; 6. Poetry relating to supernatural beings; 7. Poetry relating to unspecified individuals; 8. The remaining categories. (1) Antiquarian poetry, (2) Gnomic, descriptive and mantic poetry; 9. The texts; 10. Recitation and composition. The poet; Part III. Early Indian Literature: 1. Introduction. Literature and writing; 2. Heroic poetry; 3. The heroic milieu. Individualism; 4. Non-heroic poetry and saga; 5. Historical and unhistorical elements in heroic poetry; 6. Poetry and saga relating to deities; 7. Antiquarian learning; 8. Gnomic and descriptive poetry; 9. Poetry (and prose) relating to unspecified individuals; 10. Mantic poetry and prose; 11. The texts; 12. Recitation and composition. The author; Part IV. Early Hebrew Literature: 1. Introduction. Literature and writing; 2. The heroic age. Heroic saga and poetry; 3. Non-heroic saga and poetry; 4. The heroic milieu. Individualism; 5. Historical and unhistorical elements in heroic poetry; 6. Antiquarian learning; 7. Theological and mantic literature; 8. Gnomic and descriptive literature. Literature relating to unspecified individuals; 9. The texts. Recitation and composition; 10. The author; Index.