Mythical Creatures, Folk Theater & Religious Terms

Mythological Creatures and Characters

Dragon: A mythological creature resembling a snake with legs and wings that expels heat through its mouth.

Fairy: A being represented as a fantastic woman to whom magical powers are attributed.

Man of the Nose: A man said to appear on the first or last day of the year and to have as many noses as there are days in the year.

Goblin: A mischievous household spirit; some are said to inhabit houses.

Vibra: A fabulous animal representing a mixture of a female serpent and a dragon.

Home sac: An imaginary character who kidnaps children by placing them in a sack.

Goja: A woman of mythical beauty who dwells under the water.

Menairó: A tiny little man, according to popular belief, who works for someone who makes a living as a canonet needle.

Popular Theater and Literary Forms

There were two types of popular theater: religious theater and secular drama.

The Mystery of Elche is a work of popular theater, like other plays based on apocryphal gospels.

The protagonist of the play had all the characteristics of the archetypal hero.

The hagiographic series of religious drama recounts the life and miracles of saints.

The origin of many religious festivals lies in pagan events.

Most of these works, like other manifestations of popular literature, are usually anonymous, although some appear signed by a clergyman.

The traditional origin stories — the tales — are internationally known folk tales.

Religious Roles and Definitions

Deacon: A Christian who has been ordained to assist the bishop and the priest in liturgical functions, teaching, and charitable works.

Martyr: A person who suffers torture or death because of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Miscellaneous Terms and Definitions

Tel: A very thin membranous covering.

Aim: To research and document knowledge about science, especially applied to the historical sciences.

Eminent: Highest, outstanding, or overhanging; to excel. An eminent scientist has a prominent role.

Guide: A blind boy who came to guide you.

Unpublished: New; unknown.

Anacoluthon: A grammatical construction in which the second part does not syntactically match the first and instead follows the speaker's train of thought.

Mitra: Dignity or office of a bishop.

Merlet: Each small pillar of square section built on top of ancient fortresses, leaving space between them to enable shooting at the enemy.

Stride: To walk a long distance.

Primitive: Ancient; native.

Eixarreir be: Dry; to resect.

Consecrated: Declared holy.

Fade: To disappear completely.

Appear: To go; to make an appearance.

Transfer: Dying.

Expurgate: To clean up what is harmful.

Behold: Look; see.