In this course, Professor Michael D. C. Drout traces literature back to its ultimate sources in oral tradition. Drout shows us how works as varied as the Odyssey , Beowulf, the Finnish Kalevala, and epic songs from
the former Yugoslavia were shaped by their origins as songs sung—and composed—before a live audience. Understanding the oral roots of these great works lets us see them in a whole new light. From classical texts
to contemporary digital media, Drout demonstrates how the dynamics of oral tradition shape the verbal art that makes us who we are.
