Popular Voices pp 31–⁠62

Abstract

This paper gives a detailed analysis of the use of epic formulas in 16th century Hungarian epic songs. After presenting the previous scholarship on the question, it shows different methods of identifying and collecting formula-like textual repetitions using computational tools: from simple word collocations to almost identical line repetitions, identified with the help of character bigram analysis. The differentiation of internal (repeated in one poem) and external (shared across multiple poems) repetition allowed us to propose a totally new definition of epic formula, specific to early modern Hungarian poetry. The paper highlights the poems using the highest number of repetitions in both categories and identifies two poems poetically based on internal repetition as representatives of an archaic, oral composition technique: the Cantio de militibus pulchra and A History of Emperor Rusztán.

About

Seláf, L., Vigyikán, V., Plecháč, P., & Kiss, M. (2025). Epic Formulas and Intertextuality in 16th Century Hungarian Epic Songs. In M. Väina, M. K. Lotman, A. S. Bories, P. Ruiz Fabo, P. Plecháč, & S. Mett (Eds.), Popular Voices: Computational Analysis of Poetry and Song (pp. 31–62). Tartu: ELM Scholarly Press. doi: 10.7592/PP2025.03.selaf_et_al

DOI
http://doi.org/10.7592/PP2025.03.selaf_et_al

Print ISBN
978-9916-742-77-8

Online ISBN
978-9916-742-78-5

© Estonian Literary Museum
© Authors
© Cover design: Anne-Sophie Bories

Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)