MEMORIAL DE MARIA MOURA: KNIGHTLY SCRAPS AND WAR LITERACY

Abstract

This article has as its object of investigation the novel Memorial de Maria Moura written by Rachel de Queiroz from Ceará (1910 - 2003). The narrative tells the story of Maria Moura and her henchmen, who, armed with weapons and horses, are assaulting and fighting enemies through the interior of the hinterland. From a comparative perspective, we intend to identify and analyze residues of medieval chivalry in the characters of the novel. These residues, when inserted in the northeastern space by European colonizers, received new aspects, but kept their essence of medieval origin. In addition, we emphasize that these substrates manifest themselves in different ways: physical, mental, aesthetic, religious, among others. As the main theoretical foundation, we will use the operational concepts called mentality, imaginary, cultural hybridism, enculturation and crystallization, components of the referential framework of the Theory of Literary and Cultural Residuality, systematized by teacher, critic, poet and essayist Roberto Pontes.