Includes bibliographical references (pages 237-240) and index
1 Introduction; Part I: Style, Theme, and Composition in Genre; 2 The Logic of Proverbs; 3 Emergent Complexities and Complex Emergencies in Folktales; 4 Heroic Society in Interlacustrine Africa; Part II: A Genre-Powered Reading of Kachwenyanja; 5 Stanzas Need No Rhyme; 6 Significance Needs Time; 7 Summary and Conclusion; Appendix: A; Appendix: B; References; Index; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; R; S; T; U; V; W; Y; Z.
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 literat
