This historical account of the oral interpretation of literature establishes a chain of events comprehending 25 centuries of verbal tradition from the Homeric Age through 20th Century America. It deals in each era with the viewpoints and contributions of major historical figures to oral interpretation, as well as with oral interpretation's importance to literature, education, religion, government, and entertainment. Chapters discuss cultural patterns which influenced and were affected by the verbal expression of literature in (1) classical Greece, where the importance of recitation was appreciated by poets, kings, and commoners alike, (2) ancient Rome, where the art of spoken verse served as the foundation of Roman literature, (3) the medieval period, where literature was disseminated, enriched, and preserved by the reciting churchman and scop, (4) the Renaissance and the 17th century, where concern for learning and human dignity was enhanced by a love of the spoken word and interest in the oral techniques of the ancients, (5) the 18th century, where different theories of performing and of teaching oral expression flourished, (6) 19th century America, where the development of the individual became a reason for oral reading, and (7) the 20th century, where a sometimes artificial elocution is replaced by expressive and interpretative reading. (JB)