OVERVIEW

Small epics. For a history of Brazilian literature 'from below'.

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to trace a history of Brazilian literature through works that, in the 20th century and beyond, narrate the resistance of the 'succumbed' codependents, from the regionalist novel to the poetry of the 'retirantes', from migrants to urban violence.

The course is intended for students in the Degree Course in Foreign Languages and Cultures 2nd and 3rd year

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons are held in Italian and some texts will be read in Portuguese. The lectures will be in presential mode. The course also includes a number of seminar lectures and conferences held by lecturers from other universities and the presentation of books by writers and translators.

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

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course aims to investigate the 'little epics' of anti-heroes that animate a literature of resistance, struggle and merciless description of reality. The course, from a chronological point of view, begins with the season of the great regionalist novel (in particular 'Vidas secas' by Graciliano Ramos) and continues with the first phase of Jorge Amado's fiction (the port and factory of Salvador da Bahia). The third stage is considered by the examination of the theme of 'retirantes' in the poetry of Joao Cabral de Melo Neto and concludes with 'favela' fiction, a mirror of contemporaneity. 

Course keywords: Brazil, latifundia, favela, literature, city

The course is intended for students in the Degree Course in Foreign Languages and Cultures 2nd and 3rd year

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

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

Boris Fausto, Breve storia del Brasile, Cagliari, 2010

Antonio Cândido, Formação da literatura brasileira Voll. 1 e 2, Itatiaia, 2000

Graciliano Ramos, Vite secche, Roma, Biblioteca del Vascello, 1997

Jorge Amado, un romanzo a scelta fra Jubiaba, Sudore, Cacao, Capitani della spiaggia

Joao Cabral de Melo Neto, Morte e vita severina, Roma, Robin, 2003

Geovani Martins, Il sole in testa, Milano, Mondadori, 2018

Marcello Quintanilha, Ascolta, bella Marcia, Fandango, Milano, 2022

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 arrange a bibliography.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ROBERTO FRANCAVILLA (President)

VIRGINIACLARA CAPORALI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course is annual and starts in the first semester (first week of October)

Class schedule

PORTUGUESE LITERATURE AND CULTURE II

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be a conversation in Italian or Portuguese and will consist of questions on the whole course (https:// servizionline.unige.it/studenti/esami).

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with a certified DSA, disability  

or other special educational needs to contact the lecturer 

at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that 

while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual 

individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools