Abstract: The article examines the traditional means of artistic expression in Spanish folklore texts. The subject of the study is hyperbole, antithesis, comparison, constant epithet, which play a special role in the language of Spanish folklore. The distinctive features of the artistic system of folklore are the use of tropes at all levels of narration, the dependence of the stylistic design of the text on genre specifics, the predominance of a special polyexpressive, harmonic style in most folklore works. In addition, each genre of folklore has a functional and emotional characteristic, a special intonation, the creation of which is aimed at using the means of artistic expression. The types of tropes analyzed in the article are traditional and typical of Spanish folklore texts and illustrate the specifics of folklore allegory and artistic expressiveness. The conclusions of the study are based on the analysis of the artistic system and linguistic features of small and large genre forms of Spanish folklore. The minor intonation of a Spanish lullaby (canciones de cuna, monerías nanas), filled with repetitions, comparisons and personifications, differs from the major character of game and dance-song folklore (juegos, cancioncillas, ruedas, bailes), where the use of dialogical form, shouts and imperative mood, special rhyme and accents. The imagery of Spanish proverbs and sayings (proverbios, refranes) is expressed in the use of various artistic techniques with a general sententious character – metaphors, metonymy and synecdoche, syntactic parallelism, rhyme, alliteration. For Spanish riddles (enigmas, adivinanzas), comparison, metaphor, hyperbole, antithesis, onomatopoeia are common. In counting and drawing lots (comienzos de juego), rhyme and rhythm, the use of interjections and exclamations come to the fore. In larger forms of Spanish folklore, such as a fairy tale, there is a constant epithet, hyperbole, repetition, fairy tripling. Spanish folklore tends to use hyperbole and antithesis as the most frequent stylistic figures, as well as the main plot-forming and compositional techniques.

Abstract: The object of this research is the theatricalizes “Danse Macabre” in the Catalonian city Verges is the only extant in La Bisbal province testimony of the popular in Medieval Western Europe traditions of Macabre. “Danse Macabre” in Verges takes place on a Maundy Thursday: five actors-skeletons with the symbolic inventory in their hands – scythe, colors, urns with ash and hourglass – move to the sounds of drums and remind spectators on the brevity of life and implacable approach of death. The presence of Macabre images in the Medieval art and literature is substantiated by crisis mentality caused by the Black Death and military conflicts. The conclusions on the archetypical features and authentic elements in Catalonian “Danse Macabre” are based on the research of historical-literary context, examination of the main scientific hypothesis regarding the Iberian trace in the emergence of this synthetic genre form, analysis of the circle beginning of Catalonian “Dance Macabre” under the influence of oriental presence on the peninsula. The author assesses modern approaches towards “Danse Macabre” with their sad procession of the representatives of all social classes to mass manifestations of democratic spirit of irreconcilability and resistance, democratic satire that is fighting for social equality facing death and acting against impunity of the powers that be.

Abstract: The article is devoted to the analysis of semasiological, phraseological and paroemiological aspects of the 'mort' concept in the Catalan language from the point of view of linguocultural approach. The lexeme 'mort' is used in the Catalon language in different meanings to express the fear of death, philosophical and religious expectations, and ironic attitude to human foibles. Catalans view death as an inescapable event; temporary verge; rest; sleep, tax that free humans from earthly judgement (Pagar tribut a la mort); suffering; grief (dol); sacral action. The research is based on over two hundred of paramias and phraseologial units, analysis of dictionary definitions of Catalan 'death' lexemes, derivational and synonymic rows. Numerous paramia euphemisms describe death as a travel and indirectly relate to grave yard or memorial service (Anar a son Tril·lo). There are also cases when the 'death' lexeme designates extremely unpleasant, insignificant or unattractive humans or items (Això és una mort) to reinforce a negative remark or indicate insufficient qualities (colors ben morts). Catalans do not avoid using death lexemes in their conversation which presents their ironic and philosophical attitude to death.