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).

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 the bibliography.