O imaginário sempre floresce: um caminho pelas flores da mitologia aos contos de fadas de Hans Christian Andersen

Abstract

Flowers symbolize profound imagery within narratives. Vegetable imagery pervaded the ancient world, representing the enduring relationship that archaic people maintained with their natural environment. Those phenomena were unknown and mysterious. Paradises and unseen realms consistently feature gardens at their core, poetically enveloped in images of flowers. Given the enchantment of flowers, numerous myths have sought to explain their origins. These are beautiful tales, often imbued with tragic elements, recounting the stories of young individuals who perished in the "flower of age," transforming into flowers themselves. Flowers transcend mere poetic symbolism. They embody timeless mythical forms for which their significance persists to this day, still echoing ancient voices. Floral imagery also permeates fairy tales extensively. Often, a quest for a flower initiates the narrative, or the discovery of a flower serves as a magical means to break an enchantment. Many narratives and poems evoke flowers and the aim of this work is to undertake an analytical journey. A selection of floral images in mythology, particularly Greek and Christian, leading to an examination of their portrayal in classic fairy tales. Finally, a deeper exploration of select stories by Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish writer renowned for his more than one hundred and fifty-six fairy tales. Drawing inspiration from various mythologies, chiefly Greek and Norse, Christian narratives, folk tales, poetry, and legends. Andersen crafted countless stories, with flowers serving as a significant avenue for analysis and study, evoking deep memories and poetic sentiments within his works. In Andersen's narratives, flowers constitute an integral part of the narrative fabric, often revisiting primordial mythical themes. This thesis aims to conduct an archaeological study wherein floral imagery delineates the research path through the enchanting narratives that have flourished in the realm of imagination.