EXPRESSIVENESS OF LANGUAGE IN SHAPING THE FIGURE OF THE WARRIOR/STRONGMAN (CASE STUDIES: ROMANIAN FOLK TALES AND BALLADS)

Abstract

The expressiveness of the popular language is evident in most folkloric creations, especially in ballads, fairy tales and legends, where figurative language is often used. Artistic images are the result of metaphorical thinking. In a stage dominated by a heroic mentality, the identity of each people is reflected by the myths and legends that accompanied in its evolution. The revealing of the expressiveness of the language in Romanian popular texts is achieved through an analysis of the works with greater stylistic effect, the analysis of compositional rhetorical figures (parallelism, anaphora, enumeration, interrogation) or semantic rhetorical figures (metaphor, comparison, symbol, personification, epithet, allegory). The heroes of these literary texts are endowed with special powers in the fight with the antagonists. The notion of a hero was preferred by the people, often depicted as a victor against tyranny. That`s why the opposing characters are often put in inferiority. The feeling instilled in the readers of these literary works in the satisfacxtion that the hero wins, doing justice, proving the nothingness of the enemy and, at the same time, the revenge of the oppressed people. On the other hand, the language of the outlaws represents a linguistic manifestation of a psychology and philosophy of life. It is a form of expression, through the fabulous and the fantastic, of their undeniable power. Popular literature presents them as determined, generous, but also rebellious against injustices, which is why they win the admirtation of the people. In the Romanian countries they were perceived by the people as true heroes.