HISTORY OF PORTUGUESE AND BRAZILIAN CULTURE

Academic year
2025/2026 Syllabus of previous years
Official course title
STORIA DELLA CULTURA PORTOGHESE E BRASILIANA
Course code
LT1260 (AF:458896 AR:325898)
Teaching language
Italian
Modality
On campus classes
ECTS credits
6
Degree level
Bachelor's Degree Programme
Academic Discipline
L-LIN/08
Period
1st Semester
Course year
3
Where
VENEZIA
Moodle
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The teaching of History of Portuguese and Brazilian Culture is common to all the courses of the degree course in Languages, Civilizations and Language Sciences and it will seek to frame one of the most important works of Brazilian literature - O Grande Sertão: Veredas (by Guimarães Rosa) - in a broad socio-cultural context. In addition to commenting on it with appropriate language, students are invited to develop a project of a creative product, critically exploring the intermedial possibilities of the work. The acquisition of specific knowledge is assessed through exercises and a written test.
The course aims to provide an introduction to the historical and cultural processes of the "sertão" in the Brazilian context through the reading and analysis of Grande Sertão: Veredas, by Guimarães Rosa.
Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the formation of modern Brazilian literature; knowledge of the socio-cultural and historical-political dynamics that affect the work studied; mastery of scientific terminology for the critical analysis of literary texts.
2. Applied knowledge and understanding: highlight how the sertaneja culture influences the Brazilian collective imagination; read, analyze and interpret O Grande Sertão: Veredas
3. Autonomy of judgment: develop the ability to acquire and apply adequate critical tools in the analysis of the indicated text, on the thematic and stylistic-formal level also relating them to the context.
4. Communication skills: understand the exposition of an academic speech; express concepts with clarity and terminological precision.
5. Ability to learn to recognize the analytical aspects of the novel; formulate analytical hypotheses; the facts and materials examined and the ideas and context of which they are an expression.
Basic knowledge of European and American history and culture.
O Grande Sertão among other "sertões".
The course starts from a reflection on the "sertão" as a biome and living place through the history of Brazilian literature. The "sertão" will be studied from the Middle Ages to modernity, privileging the existentialist side linked to European literature. In a first segment, the particular questions regarding myths, stereotypes, and the construction of national identity will be explored. Through the analysis of selected texts, the themes and peculiar traits of the author's writing will be illustrated, which will allow the articulation of a broad reflection on the thematic and linguistic renewal within a specific literary, historical, social and cultural context.
The following themes will be covered: the storyteller and the sertão; the "cangaceiro"; martyrs and heroines in the popular image; contrasts; The Sertão, by Euclides da Cunha; the "sertão" by Darcy Ribeiro; the "sertão" by Raquel de Queiroz; the critical bibliography of O Sertão: Veredas.
Basic bibliography:
ROSA, J. G. Grande Sertão: Veredas. Rio de Janeiro: José Olympio, 1956.
Theoretical and critical studies:
ANDRADE, V. L. “Conceituação de jagunço e jagunçagem em Grande Sertão: Veredas.” In COUTINHO, E. F. Guimarães Rosa. Coleção Fortuna crítica. V. 6. Rio de Janeiro: Civilização Brasileira, 1983. 491-499.
ATRAVESSAR o Grande Sertão. Curso com José Miguel Wisnik. São Paulo: Atelier Paulista, 2022. Color. Disponível em: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV3ZDLYSnvY . Acesso em: 18 nov. 2022. (vídeo)
BOLLE, W. grandesertão.br: o romance de formação. São Paulo: Duas cidades; Ed. 34, 2004.
_. O sertão como forma de pensamento. Scripta, 2(3), 259-271. Belo Horizonte, PUCMinas, 1998.
CAMPOS, A. de. “Um lance de ‘Dês’ do Grande Sertão”. In COUTINHO, E. F. Guimarães Rosa. Coleção Fortuna crítica. V. 6. Rio de Janeiro: Civilização Brasileira, 1983. P. 321-349.
CANDIDO, A. “O homem dos avessos”. In IDEM. Tese e antítese. São Paulo: Ouro sobre Azul, 2017.
GALVÃO, W. N. “O certo no incerto: o pactário”. In COUTINHO, E. F. Guimarães Rosa. Coleção Fortuna crítica. V. 6. Rio de Janeiro: Civilização Brasileira, 1983. 408-421.
GARBUGLIO, J. C. O mundo movente de Guimarães Rosa. São Paulo, Ática, 1972.
HANSEN, João Adolfo. A imaginação do paradoxo. In: Floema. Ano II, n. 3, p. 103-108, jan./jun. 2006, pp. 103-8.
_. O O: a ficção da literatura em Grande sertão: veredas. São Paulo: Hedra, 2000.
LARA, C. de. Grande Sertão: Veredas – Processo de criação. Scripta, 2(3), 41-49. Belo Horizonte, PUCMinas, 1998.
LIMA, L. C. “O sertão e o mundo”. In IDEM. Por que literatura? Petrópolis: Vozes, 1966. 73-99.
LORENZ, Günter. “Diálogo com Guimarães Rosa”. In COUTINHO, E. F. Guimarães Rosa. Coleção Fortuna crítica. V. 6. Rio de Janeiro: Civilização Brasileira, 1983. P. 62-97.
MARTINS, N. S. O Léxico de Guimarães Rosa. São Paulo: Edusp, 2021.
NUNES, B. A Rosa o que é de Rosa: literatura e filosofia em Guimarães Rosa. São Paulo: Bertrand Brasil, 2013.
_. O mito em Grande Sertão: Veredas. Scripta, 2(3), 33-40. Belo Horizonte, PUCMinas, 1998.
PRADO JÚNIOR, Bento. O destino cifrado: linguagem e existência em Guimarães Rosa: alguns ensaios, São Paulo: Max Limonade, 1985.
RÓNAI, P. Rosa & Rónai: O universo de Guimarães por Paulo Rónai, seu maior decifrador. Org. Martins, Ana C. et alii. Rio de Janeiro: Bazar do Tempo, 2020.
RONCARI, L. Lutas e auroras: os avessos do Grande Sertão: Veredas. São Paulo: Editora UNESP, 2018.
ROSENBAUM, Y.. A Batalha Final: Riobaldo na encruzilhada dos Fantasmas. Literatura e Sociedade (USP), v. 1, p. 137-147, 2008.
SCHWARZ, R. “Grande sertão: a fala”. In IDEM. A sereia e o desconfiado. Rio de Janeiro: Civilização Brasileira, 1965.
STARLING, H. M. M. (1998). O sentido do moderno no Brasil de João Guimarães Rosa - veredas de politica e ficção. Scripta, 2(3), 138-146. Belo Horizonte, PUCMinas, 1998.
UTÉZA, F. JGR: metafísica do Grande Sertão. São Paulo: EdUSP, 2016.
_. Realismo e transcendência: o mapa das minas do grande sertão. Scripta, 2(3), 127-137. Belo Horizonte, PUCMinas, 1998.
The exam is a written exercise. Students MAY do a creative work evaluated up to 10 pt and presented in class in the last days of the course. This work would consist of making an oral recitation of a passage from the novel or transforming it into an artistic product such as an exposition, theatrical drama or any other form of art. It can be done in a group or alone and specific guidance will be given during the course.
The final written exam has 6 questions (5 points each) and must be handwritten, made between 3 or 4 pages (about half a page for each question). It must be a personal commentary that shows how to intertwine the various points of the study, in order to verify the depth of the topic developed and its connection with the entire content of the course (debate, bibliography and lessons). For those who have done the creative work, it is enough to answer four questions.
written
The final grade will be determined on the basis of the following criteria:
between 18 and 24 if the student shows sufficient knowledge of the course content
between 25 and 28 if the student shows good knowledge of the topics and critical analysis skills
between 29 and 30 if the student shows excellent knowledge of the topics, confidence in presentation and excellent critical analysis skills.
Frontal lessons. Active participation during lessons will be encouraged. Seminars with preparation of mandatory and supplementary readings. The course deals with literature in an interdisciplinary way. Multimedia materials will be used in addition to the bibliography, such as interviews and documentaries. Remote interaction with students via the University's Moodle e-learning platform
The students are invited to participate at a colloquium with the Professor in order to have a personal orientation

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development

Definitive programme.
Last update of the programme: 28/07/2025