OVERVIEW

The course provides a general introduction to Portuguese-language literatures and an in-depth study of their relationship with their respective socio-cultural contexts: Portugal, Brazil, Portuguese-speaking African countries.

The course is aimed at first-year students for a total of 36 hours (6 cfu)

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The literary history of Portuguese-speaking countries is closely connected to historical-political dynamics. Interdisciplinary dialogue is therefore essential. In the Portuguese case, it will be essential to acquire skills related to the maritime dimension (the Geographical Discoveries) and the political dimension (especially as regards the 20th century). For Brazil, teaching will make use of elements of anthropology (to address specific topics such as the formation of Brazilian society in relation to slavery and the indigenous world). theoretical elements from ecocriticism will be important in this regard

The course aims to provide students with a knowledge of cultures and literatures in the Portuguese language.

Students who have attended this course and studied the proposed materials are familiar with the literary forms and the most important figures in Portuguese and Brazilian literature; they are familiar with numerous aspects and problems of these literatures in their relation to History; they are able to analyse texts by referring them to the historical and socio-cultural context.

PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites.

TEACHING METHODS

The lectures are held in Italian. The course also includes a number of seminar lectures and conferences held by lecturers from other universities and the presentation of books with the participation of writers and translators.

Attendance is not monitored but is nevertheless highly recommended, especially for those who have never had any background in Lusophone literature.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

After a general introduction to the main theoretical lines of literature and cultural studies, the lectures will take a path through Portuguese, Brazilian and African literatures and cultures produced by Portuguese-speaking countries. In particular, the most important stages and fundamental junctures will be analysed: the origins (the Gallego-Portuguese lyricism), 15th-century historiography (and the subject of the Descobrimentos), the 16th century (from the 'discovery' of Brazil' to the Camonian epic) the decline and the difficult path into modernity up to the avant-gardes of the 20th century (with a double discourse addressed on the one hand to Brazilian Modernism and São Paulo of '22 and on the other to Fernando Pessoa and the poetics of heteronymy), the period from the Portuguese regime of the Estado Novo up to democracy and contemporaneity.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Luciana Stegagno Picchio, Storia della letteratura brasiliana, Torino, Einaudi, 1997

AA.VV, (a cura di V. Tocco), Breve storia della Letteratura portoghese, Pisa, Carocci

R. Francavilla, I. Mata, V. Tocco, Le letterature africane in lingua portoghese, Milano, Hoepli, 2022

Fernando Tavares Pimenta, Storia politica del Portogallo contemporaneo, Torino, Le Monnier

Boris Fausto, Breve storia del Brasile, Cagliari,

Luís de Camões, I Lusiadi, Milano, Rizzoli, 2001

Fernando Pessoa, Una sola moltitudine, Vol. I, Milano, Adelphi

AA.VV, Il Portogallo è grande, in “Limes”, vol. monografico, 2009

Two novels of your choice by Portuguese-language authors

Further critical materials will be provided by the lecturer during the course of the lectures

The bibliography is indicative and should be discussed with the lecturer during the module. Non-attending students are requested to contact the lecturer to agree on possible changes to the bibliography.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course will be held in the first semester.

Classes will begin on Tuesday, 30 September, with the following schedule:

Tuesday 4–6 p.m., Room 7, Albergo dei Poveri

Wednesday 8–9 a.m., Room F, Language Teaching Centre

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of an interview lasting approximately half an hour, aimed at assessing the candidate's knowledge of the course content and reasoning skills. Consequently:

1) Questions will focus on the culture and literary history of Portuguese-speaking countries, the periods, authors and topics covered in class (or included in the list for non-attending students) and on the novels of your choice (see bibliography), some of which – at the lecturer's discretion – will be commented on.

2) The textbooks listed in the bibliography are an integral part of the programme: in addition to verifying that they have been read, the teacher will ask candidates for personal analysis and reflections, and any comparisons and judgements based on the literary knowledge acquired during the course.

3) Students are also required to independently study (from a literary, historical, social, cultural, comparative or interdisciplinary perspective) a topic of their choice that is relevant to the course programme.

Please note that the mark obtained, which will be communicated at the end of the interview, may be rejected. In the event of rejection of the mark or failure of the exam, the candidate may always repeat the test at the next exam session. There is no limit to the number of attempts.

In addition to the annual examination sessions (two in the winter and autumn sessions, three in the summer session), there are special sessions for graduating students, students who have exceeded the standard duration of their studies and Erasmus students. The dates of these sessions will be communicated directly to the students.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The achievement of the expected learning outcomes will be assessed through an oral examination, which will evaluate not only the quality of the presentation and the correct use of specialised vocabulary, but also critical thinking skills, the skills acquired in the historical dimension of literary texts, and an overview of the main cultural and geo-linguistic connections of the Portuguese-speaking world.

Great importance will be given to the ability to navigate the different periods of Portuguese and Brazilian literary history, to contextualise the works and themes studied, and to develop a personal critical judgement on the phenomena considered.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department's disability liaison.