OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation · J199
Paper 5
Revise: Authors, Genres and Composition of Classical War TextsOral-formulaic composition means creating verse in performance with the help of inherited phrases and patterns that fit its rhythm. A poet could draw on a store of familiar expressions rather than inventing every line from nothing. Recurring descriptions such as ‘Hector of the gleaming helm’ illustrate the kind of traditional language available to the performer.