What are the benefits and drawbacks of the scroll as a technology for writing? Consider storage, transportation of documents, aesthetics, suitability for different structures of argument, and ease of use for both readers and writers

Writing was not considered practical or economical at the time of the scroll. Writing often required many rolls and was only done on one side of the scroll. Grout (2002) said that physical limitations of the scroll “tended to define the divisions of literature” because one piece of work often required many rolls. The need to constantly wind and unwind the scroll took a lot of time compared to turning the pages of a codex. This action also caused abrasion (Grout, 2002). It was difficult to find information on the scroll because there was no index and the titulus (title) would tend to fall off. Handwriting at the time of the scroll was very decorative like calligraphy (Ong, 2002). Writing took a long period of time which was sometimes only able to be interpreted by the author (Ong, 2002). This is an extreme contrast to print culture where page layout was well structured and legible, making silent reading easier (Ong, 2002).

Reading was a social activity with the scroll. It was embedded in an oral culture where mnemonics, aggregation, and epithets were transferred to writing. Therefore, written grammar was still closely tied to the spoken word even though it did revolutionize communication. (Bolter, 2001). “Writing on papyrus remediated oral communication by involving the eye as well as the ear and so giving the words a different claim to reality” (Bolter, 2001, p. 23). Because reading took place in public, the written word was more up for debate than in print, for example, which was thought of to be finalized (Ong, 2002). Scroll writing was done by experts who were educated in working with materials like rags, ink and papyrus. Therefore, literacy was not common amongst the masses.

Bolter, J. (2001). Writing space. New York: Routledge.

Grout, J. (Ed.). (2002). Scroll and codex. In Encyclopaedia Romana. Retrieved from: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/notaepage.html

Ong, Walter. (2002.) Orality and literacy. New York: Routledge.