B004681 - PORTUGUESE AND BRAZILIAN LITERATURE 1 (12 CFU)

Italian

The course aims to provide a general understanding of the historical-literary development in Brazil with particular attention to some selected moments and to the following nuclei: representations of the Other; narratives of slavery; figures and metaphors of the body; marginality.

Luciana Stegagno Picchio, Storia della letteratura brasiliana, Torino, Einaudi, 1997
Boris Fausto, Breve storia del Brasile, Cagliari, 2010
Pêro Vaz de Caminha, La Carta do Achamento di Pero vaz de Caminha, a cura di A. Unali, Cisalpino-Goliardica, Milano, 1984.
Machado de Assis, Pai contra mãe.
Lima Barreto, Clara dos Anjos, Diabasis, 2013 (anche ebook).
Jorge Amado, Jubiabá (varie edizioni).
Carolina Maria de Jesus, Quarto do despejo, Bompiani, 1962; anche in La stanza dei rifiuti e altre opere, Alpes Italia, 2021.
Geovani Martins, Il sole in testa, Mondadori, 2019 (anche ebook).

The bibliography is indicative. The definitive program will be announced at the beginning of the course (February 2024).

The course (72 hours) will focus on the study of Brazilian literature. Aims of
the course:
a. to introduce students to different authors and literary genres;
b. to familiarize students with the critical instruments required for the analysis of literary texts;
c. to enable students to develop a critical consciousness and an awareness of critical theory and
culture theory through detailed analyses of some the most representative texts of literatures in the historical period under consideration.

1. Knowledge and understanding: Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding in
historical and cultural contexts and will acquire the
critical tools to cope with the formal and substantive components of the literary texts
analyzed during the lessons.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will learn how to apply processes,
models, questions, and theories that result in enhanced clarity in the comprehension of
literary texts included in the program, which will be appreciated in both their formal and
their contextual features.
3. Making judgements: Students will develop the ability to discuss the literary questions
considered during the course, proposing critical perspectives and well-grounded
judgements on the texts included in the program.
4. Communication skills: Students will develop the ability to can communicate information,
ideas, problems and solutions, with particular reference to themes and questions
considered during the lessons.
5. Learning skills: Students will acquire the methodological tools needed to read, analyze and
understand literary texts in their generic structures.

The prerequisites for attending this course are those required by the Degree Course.
Prerequisites: to take the Portuguese and Brazilian Literature 2 exam, it is necessary to have passed Literature 1.

lectures with invitation to discussion.

The course takes place in the second semester.
Further information will be given at the beginning of the course.

Oral exam. The exam will test students’ knowledge of:
1. The history of Brazil;
2. Specific issues and themes in Brazilian literature;
3. The key texts and critical literature included in the reading list.

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and critically evaluate the key texts included in
the reading list, and to place them within their historical and cultural contexts.
Successful candidates will be required to demonstrate adequate knowledge in all of the above
points (1,2,3).
The exam aims to assess:
- The knowledge of key concepts in the history of Brazilian literature.
- The ability to describe and place literary phenomena within their contexts of production and
reception;
- The ability of close reading and appreciation of all the texts included in the reading list as well as
a thorough command of methodological and theoretical tools;
- The ability to use formal and critical terminology;

Students will demonstrate that they can discuss the subjects treated during the course, make
appropriate connections between different authors and works, and express themselves clearly.
Grades are given on the basis of 30 points. Points are awarded if students are able to
1) describe form and contents of the texts studied,
2) understand, summarize and propose critical readings of those texts,
3) elaborate personal judgements that are solidly grounded on the text and/or secondary
literature,
4) use appropriate terms.
Nos. 1 and 4 are essential in order to obtain the minimum passing grade (18/30); higher
evaluations depend on to what extent’ students have developed their skills in all four points listed
above.

The course aims to provide a general understanding of the historical-literary development in Brazil with particular attention to some selected moments and to the following nuclei: representations of the Other; narratives of slavery; figures and metaphors of the body; marginality. From a chronological point of view, the itinerary will begin with the narratives of the "Discovery" of Brazil and will end with the "favela" narrative, passing through the crónicas of Machado de Assis, the "marginal" writing of Lima Barreto and for the fictional production of Jorge Amado, among others