Homeland and patriotism between popular poetry and verse

Abstract

This article deals with the popular poetry and the classical one in their role of stimulating emotions and passions, and changing the course of history of nations. The popular poetry and the classical one have been entwined from their very beginning with the great events that Algeria went through since its colonisation. Hence, the poet has recorded any event he witnessed or heard of. The Algerian poet was aware of his role, he was certain that poetry was to serve as an instrument of resistance. For this purpose, he endured the persecution and torture exerted on him by the coloniser who succeeded to have control over the written word, but failed to control the oral one. This literary art has recorded the pains and the aspirations of the Algerian people; it took part in the resistance until the culmination of victory, and it continues through time