Milman Parry

Milman Parry was a scholar who studied ancient oral poetry, such as Homer’s epics. He believed that these long stories were composed and remembered by performers through repeated phrases and patterns, rather than written down first. Parry’s work showed how oral poets, or bards, could create complex, memorable poems on the spot using formulas—like stock phrases or scenes—making storytelling efficient and consistent. His insights help us understand how long-standing traditions can be transmitted across generations without written texts, highlighting the skill and creativity involved in oral performance.