The Future of the Oral Performance Theory of the Monogatari(<Feature Articles>Early Poetry and Prose)

Abstract

Stressing the difference between the monogatari and the modern novel, the oral performance theory attempts to cover the range of literary activity from author to reader. Criticism of this theory has been directed at the issue of whether the monogatari was read out loud or silently, whether the audience consisted of the daughters of aristocrats or women in attendance, but it has not taken into account sufficiently the archaic nature of the monogatari. On the other hand, the oral performance theory itself fails to confront the differences between the Genji Monogatari and earlier monogatari, or the Genji as a work situated between the archaic and the medievail. The task that is left, therefore, is to sort out the various problems based on a full understanding of the Heian Period. The oral performance theory still has much to offer monogatari studies.