The Fusion of Historical Periods in Serbian Oral Epic

Authors:

Pages: 408-420

Abstract:

In Serbian oral epic, three major historical dominants are distinguished (oldest, middle and modern times). However, in representation of time there are specific poetic laws and devices. The epic tends to blend and rearrange chronological sequences and epic heroes in order to show a specific idea. Typical epic techniques are bringing together heroes from different periods, and creating anachronistic couples, blood and non-blood relations, pseudo-genealogical lines. Intertextual temporal relations are created by repetition and parallels of similar motifs, attributes, situations. Becoming symbolic chronotopes, some particular elements of epic space have important role in bridging over historical periods. By choosing the specific narrative optics, epic singers have the important share in interpretation of historical events and heroes. Mentioned aspects and techniques contribute to the complex representation of the vision of historical past in the oral epic poetry.

Keywords:

Serbian oral epic, temporality, relation between history and tradition, poetic techniques for representation of time in epic, invention of tradition, pseudo-genealogical constructions, epic singers’ interpretation of national history.

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