EL336: Havelock 63-97

Page 80: "It is of some interest and relevance that this memory function commemorated by the early poet, but only symbolically and indirectly, achieved more explicit recognition later, after the passage of a century or more, at a time when the extended use of the alphabet had produced a rical means of remembrance in competition with the oral." -Havelock

This goes back to what I discussed about Homer's use of literary mechanics to help him remember his lengthy epics. I'm still not quite sure why the shift from oral or written culture was such a frightening time period.

I can't imagine how much of a strain on the mind it must have been to remember anything before writing. Laws, things to do, stories, myths, any wordage passed on from person to person. On the other hand I suppose that not having the ability to write things down also strengthened the memory. Perhaps, like the Amish worrying about tecnhology causing social separation, they were probably worried that the inclusion of writing into their daily lives would weaken their memory.