Popular Literature in Catalan Language and Culture
Popular Lyric
Popular lyric plays a significant role in poetry from different eras, connected to the basic human need for expression. This is evident in the Catalan language song tradition, starting from the earliest periods.
From the 16th century, Catalan literature experienced a crisis in quality and quantity. During this time, popular and traditional literature gained prominence, representing and preserving the language. This type of literature has both a popular dimension (acceptance by the community) and a traditional one (transmission across generations).
Romances
Romances are poetic compositions with an undefined number of verses, typically using assonant rhyme in even lines and no rhyme in odd lines. Catalan romances feature recurring themes and characters that became valuable material for 19th and 20th-century literature.
Themes like harvesting and legendary figures like John of Serrallonga are reinterpreted in various literary and historical works.
Joy and Christmas Songs
Religious songs, especially those related to Christmas, are noteworthy. Joys (a set of seven initial verses with a refrain and a variable number of verses) and carols (songs with homely themes and references to Christmas celebrations) are prominent examples.
Corrandes and Songs of Pandera
Corrandes are stanzas of four or five verses, each forming a self-contained unit. Their simple structure allows for diverse dramatic themes. Songs of Pandera, sung since the 18th century during celebrations like weddings and baptisms, typically consist of eight-verse stanzas with a kind and laudatory character, often performed by women accompanied by a pandero.
Rondalles (Tales)
In popular prose literature, tales hold significant importance. These anonymous stories, transmitted orally, present imaginary or fantastic events. Compilers like Antoni Maria Alcover, Jacint Verdaguer, and Enric Valor have documented these tales, incorporating elements of village life.
Popular Theater in Medieval Tradition
During the Middle Ages, the Church recognized the educational and propagandistic potential of theater, incorporating dramatic elements into religious rituals. Simple and direct texts aimed to convey religious messages effectively.
In contrast to literary works, theatrical and musical productions were complex, aiming to impress and move audiences with grand staging and melodies. These representations, known as mysteries or religious dramas, explored themes related to Christianity, notably the Passion of Christ. Passion plays continue to be performed in Catalonia, particularly in Esparreguera and Olesa. Stories about the birth of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and saints were also common themes, especially during the feast of Corpus Christi.
Short Comic Plays and Interludes
In the late 18th century, a theatrical genre emerged in various Catalan-speaking territories. These short comic pieces, often with satirical intent, were typically performed alongside longer dramas. Represented in open spaces, these plays, known as comic sketches or interludes, featured simple characters and themes revolving around love conflicts, hunger, and social satire. Stock characters like the foolish husband, the braggart, the vain woman, and mischievous students, reminiscent of the picaresque tradition, populated these plays.