sábado, 21 de junho de 2025

The magic of folklore: how Cobra Honorato captivates and educates


            A journey through the Brazilian legend that blends theater, education, and popular culture

Dive into the universe of Brazilian folklore with the legend of Cobra Honorato, a story pulsing with mystery, humor, and life lessons. Through theater and education, Antônio Carlos dos Santos invites us to rediscover the power of popular traditions to transform minds and hearts.


At the heart of Brazilian folklore, where rivers wind through forests and legends come to life, the story of Cobra Honorato, or Buiuna, shines as a cultural treasure. This mythical serpent, inhabiting both waters and the popular imagination, is more than a folkloric figure; it is a symbol of connection to our roots, an invitation to explore the richness of Brazilian identity. In the play Cobra Honorato, the fourth volume of Antônio Carlos dos Santos’s Education, Theater, and Folklore Collection, a group of students unravels this mystery with humor and curiosity, showing how theater can transform learning into a vibrant adventure. The legend, with its blend of suspense and wisdom, teaches that popular stories not only entertain but also educate and inspire.

Motivational Quote: “Education is the progressive discovery of our own ignorance.” – John Dewey

Brazilian folklore is a mosaic of narratives reflecting the country’s cultural diversity, blending Indigenous, African, and European influences. Studies from the University of São Paulo (2021) highlight that legends like Cobra Honorato help preserve collective memory, strengthening cultural identity. Antônio Carlos dos Santos, with his Education, Theater, and Folklore Collection, comprising ten volumes that explore 19 Brazilian legends, transforms these stories into pedagogical tools. The play Cobra Honorato uses theater to engage young audiences, encouraging them to explore folklore dynamically. Through humorous dialogues and comedic situations, the narrative invites the audience to reflect on courage, curiosity, and respect for nature.

Curiosity Box:
The Power of Brazilian Folklore

  • Origin: The legend of Cobra Honorato, or Buiuna, has roots in Amazonian Indigenous myths, symbolizing the strength of rivers.
  • Impact: Research from USP (2021) shows that folkloric narratives increase school engagement by 25% when used in educational contexts.
  • Classic Example: The legend of Saci Pererê, also explored in Santos’s collection, is a folkloric icon blending mischief and wisdom.

Theater, as an educational tool, has a unique power to bring stories to life. The Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater (MBPT) methodology, created by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, uses puppets to make legends like Cobra Honorato accessible and engaging. In a community project in rural Maranhão, for example, MBPT was used to teach children about folklore, resulting in increased interest in reading, according to a study by the Federal University of Maranhão (2022). Puppet theater creates a playful environment where learning blends with fun, allowing children and youth to connect emotionally with the stories. The play Cobra Honorato employs this approach to transform the myth into a narrative that teaches values like teamwork and curiosity.

Practical Tip:
Incorporate theater into education! Use puppets or simple enactments to tell folkloric stories in the classroom. This stimulates creativity and student interest.

The MAT (Mindset, Action, and Theater) methodology, also developed by Santos, combines a positive mindset, practical actions, and theatrical elements to teach and inspire. In the play Cobra Honorato, MAT is reflected in how the students tackle the serpent’s mystery with determination and creativity. A practical example is the use of MAT in schools, where teachers encourage students to create their own versions of folkloric legends, fostering writing and critical thinking skills. Studies from Harvard University (2020) show that approaches integrating art and education, like MAT, increase knowledge retention by up to 30%, as they stimulate multiple brain areas.

Inspiring Story:
Malala Yousafzai, in her fight for girls’ education in Pakistan, used simple, impactful stories to engage communities. Her approach, similar to the use of folklore in theater, shows how narratives can inspire profound change.

The Theater Movement (ThM), another methodology by Santos, uses bodily movement to enhance learning. In the play Cobra Honorato, actors employ gestures and choreography to depict the serpent’s sinuous movement, creating a sensory connection to the story. Research from the University of Oxford (2022) indicates that bodily movement improves memory and comprehension, especially in children. In a school project in Rio de Janeiro, ThM was applied to teach the Cobra Honorato legend, resulting in greater student engagement, with students reporting that they felt the story “come alive” through performance. This approach demonstrates how theater can transform learning into a physical and emotional experience.

Motivational Quote:
“True education consists in bringing out the best in oneself. What better book can there be than the book of humanity?” – Maria Montessori

Santos’s Education, Theater, and Folklore Collection is a celebration of Brazilian culture. Each volume, such as Cobra Honorato, Iara, the Mother of Water, or Saci Pererê, reinterprets a legend with humor and depth. The play Cobra Honorato highlights the curiosity of its young protagonists, who face the unknown to unravel the serpent’s mystery. This narrative resonates with the idea that folklore is not just entertainment but a way to teach ethical and social values. A study from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2023) suggests that using folkloric narratives in theater increases empathy in children, as they identify with the characters’ challenges.

Curiosity Box:
Antônio Carlos dos Santos’s Methodologies

  • MBPT: Uses puppet theater to teach legends in a playful and accessible way.
  • MAT: Integrates mindset, action, and theater to promote creative learning.
  • ThM: Uses bodily movement to reinforce narratives and emotional engagement.

Folklore, like the Cobra Honorato legend, also plays a crucial role in preserving cultural identity. According to UNESCO (2021), countries that value their cultural traditions, like Brazil, strengthen social cohesion and attract cultural tourism, contributing to economic development. Santos’s Education, Theater, and Folklore Collection is an example of how theater can bridge past and future, connecting generations through stories. The play Cobra Honorato teaches that respect for nature and culture is essential for building a more harmonious world, a message that resonates with audiences of all ages.

Practical Tip:
Create a “folklore club” with friends or students. Each week, choose a Brazilian legend and discuss its lessons. Use theater to perform it and deepen the learning experience.

The emotional impact of theater is what makes the play Cobra Honorato so powerful. The narrative, with its mix of suspense, humor, and life lessons, creates an immediate connection with the audience. Studies from the Journal of Educational Psychology (2022) show that stories with strong emotional appeal, like those in folklore, increase engagement by up to 40% in educational settings. Santos, with his ability to transform legends into youth comedies, makes Cobra Honorato more than a myth – it becomes a mirror for reflecting on our own curiosity and courage.

Inspiring Story:
Nelson Mandela used traditional African tales to inspire his fellow prisoners, showing how stories can unite people and strengthen hope. Santos’s approach, with his theatrical collection, follows a similar path, using folklore to inspire and educate.

Ultimately, Cobra Honorato and the Education, Theater, and Folklore Collection remind us that folklore is a living tool for education and transformation. Antônio Carlos dos Santos’s methodologies, such as MBPT, MAT, and ThM, show that theater can go beyond the stage, becoming a vehicle for learning and cultural connection. By diving into Brazilian legends, we rediscover not only our roots but also the power to dream, create, and transform the world around us. Cobra Honorato, with its mystery and magic, is an invitation for each of us to explore the unknown with courage and joy.

Motivational Quote:
“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.” – Anísio Teixeira

Acesse os livros de Antônio Carlos dos Santos na amazon.com ou na amazon.com.br 

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https://www.amazon.com/author/antoniosantos



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