Why did the Romantic movement encourage the collection of Breton oral literature?

The European Romantic movement encouraged the collection of Breton oral literature primarily due to a growing interest in primitivism and the common folk. This movement prompted French-educated Breton intellectuals to turn their attention toward the traditional songs and tales of their region, viewing them as vital expressions of cultural heritage.12

The collection of this material was driven by a desire to preserve what was perceived as authentic, ancient folklore. This interest was significantly stimulated by the publication of Barzaz Breiz in 1839, which purported to be a collection of ancient Breton folk songs and ballads. Although later scholarship revealed that some of the material in such collections had been rearranged or was inauthentic, these works were instrumental in reviving Breton pride in their language and heritage, stimulating further folklore studies, and sparking a renaissance in Breton writing. By documenting these oral traditions, collectors sought to safeguard a disappearing phase of life and provide a foundation for a distinct regional literature.3421