This part of the book consists of six chapters, arranged in three pairs. The first pair discusses reception by hearing, the second by reading, the last the possibility that hearing and reading were anticipated for the same work. In each pair of chapters the first evaluates the criteria for determining the mode of reception, whilst the second surveys the works which can be allocated to a particular mode in the period 800–1300.

The exception is Chapter 7. Since this chapter deals with works meant to be both heard and read, there is no point in repeating the criteria for these two modes. Instead, Chapter 7 is given over to a definition of the intermediate mode, to establishing the special criteria available, but above all to discussing selected examples.

In the following chapters, as Scholz also found unavoidable, we rely on the internal evidence of texts in assessing how it was expected that they would be received. This is unavoidable since historical sources (as distinct from literary ones) show little interest in medieval literature in the vernacular, let alone the way in which it was delivered or received. On the few occasions when they refer to this at all it is generally with regard to public recital and acoustic reception (because these were social occasions which a chronicler might deem worthy of report), hardly ever with an eye to an individual reading a text for himself. Although historical scholarship may prefer to deal with non-literary sources, we have no choice but to give priority to the evidence of literary texts. Without them our questions could not be answered at all.