O folclore como matéria romanesca em Macunaíma de Mário de Andrade

Abstract

This work focuses on the appropriation of Brazilian folklore as novelistic material in the work Macunaíma by Mário de Andrade, highlighting the use of this theme as a means to discuss a particular notion of national identity. Based on this premise, the present study seeks to understand how the author uses elements of popular culture, pecifically originating from the confluence of Amerindian, African and European folklore, to create a narrative that both celebrates and questions the contradictions of Brazilian identity. The methodology adopted for this work is qualitative, consisting of a literary analysis of the narrative and the development of a theoretical foundation based on the reading and documentation of relevant studies to the adopted approach. The focus of the analysis of the work fell on three main aspects: the construction of the protagonist's identity, the inclusion of folkloric characters in the narrative, and Andrade's innovative language. The results indicate that Macunaíma not only enriches the Brazilian literary landscape but also provokes critical reflection on the social and cultural dynamics of the country. Through the figure of the anti-hero and the mix of linguistic registers, the work challenges traditional literary conventions and establishes itself as a space for dialogue between past and present, between tradition and modernity. Thus, Macunaíma reveals itself as a timeless work that continues to resonate in contemporary discussions on identity and cultural diversity in Brazil.