Contos de fadas portugueses : um estudo da moral social nas histórias populares de Adolfo Coelho (século XIX)

Abstract

This master's dissertation aims to study the historical importance of Portuguese folk tales for understanding Portugal in the Contemporary Era. The origins of the tales, which derive from oral tradition, specifically from rural communities and regions, will be addressed. The first chapter presents a survey of data with tables and information on the economic, political and social situation of 19th century Portugal. Following the line of argumentation of classic Portuguese history books about the period, as well as articles and theses, the aim was to elaborate on the reasons for the economic backwardness and the ideas of the literate groups engaged in the elaboration of a modernization project for the country. To this end, the second chapter analyzed historical sources on the new movement for the re-elaboration of national identity, led by intellectuals, who through conferences and publications sought to transmit a diagnosis of the Portuguese nation, considered old, tied to ancestral values, but which should unite and implement new ideas and liberal-modern thinking. Portuguese literature was a vehicle that allowed us to revisit culture/tradition and teach new generations the new values proposed by the Generation of 1870. In chapter three of this study, literary sources were analyzed, especially the book Contos Populares Portugueses (1879) by Adolfo Coelho, in which recurring themes were identified, and ten short stories were selected in which these themes are explored. The selection of short stories allows an analytical-interpretative study based on the literary theories of Marie-Louise von Franz, Bruno Bettelheim, Nelly Novaes Coelho, Maria Nikolajeva and Jack Zipes on the recurring themes. The selected themes were: the role of each gender in the social environment; what symbols portray Portuguese culture; what principles and values were defended by the writer and compiler of the short stories; what social and religious influences the stories suffered. Each of these themes was analyzed based on theoretical references and an example of excerpts from the stories chosen to present the interpretations and elaborate the final considerations.