O conto Zoofolclórico do Boitatá e suas visões de natureza

Abstract

This study analyzes the ways of seeing, feeling, and understanding nature present in Brazilian zoofolkloric tales, focusing on the symbolic representations of animals. It departs from the premise that such narratives express cosmologies and ancestral knowledge about the natural world, revealing multiple visions of nature rooted in imagination, memory, and popular culture. The research centers on the figure of the Boitatá, examined through different literary records. A qualitative approach is adopted, guided by two analytical dimensions: the symbolic, addressing archetypal meanings and mythical elements, and the behavioral, focusing on the ethical, social, and ecological values embedded in the characters’ actions. The results show that the Boitatá, as a zoofolkloric character, can act as a cultural mediator, bridging myth and science in the construction of meanings about nature. It is concluded that the analyzed tales serve as both pedagogical and cultural documents, contributing to the appreciation of intangible heritage and offering potential for educational practices that integrate scientific knowledge and traditional wisdom.