PORTUGUESE AND BRAZILIAN LITERATURE 2 MOD.1

The course “Literature of Portuguese and Brazilian Culture” is common to all curricula of the Bachelor’s Degree in Languages, Civilisations and Language Sciences (LTR10), particularly within the literary-cultural curriculum (L), and aims to introduce students to the study of Portuguese Modernism, situating it within the historical, cultural, and literary context between the late nineteenth century and the early decades of the twentieth century.
By the end of the course, students will be able to read and understand literary texts, place them within their historical and cultural context, and analyse them using appropriate language and basic methodological tools. The course also provides tools for understanding cultural and linguistic phenomena from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge of the fundamental aspects of Portuguese Modernism and of the historical, cultural, and literary context in which it developed. Ability to recognise the main authors, themes, and features of the movement.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Ability to read and understand literary texts, identifying their main stylistic and thematic aspects and placing them within their historical and cultural context.
Making judgements
Ability to formulate basic personal interpretations of the texts and cultural phenomena studied, also through guided classroom discussion.
Communication skills
Ability to present course contents clearly and coherently, using appropriate language and basic disciplinary terminology.
Learning skills
Ability to organise independent study and to use the main learning tools (notes, texts, and provided materials) to acquire course knowledge.

No specific prerequisites are required. However, a basic knowledge of European history and culture may be helpful.

The course aims to introduce students to the study of Portuguese Modernism through the analysis of its main authors and texts, situating it within the broader context of Portuguese literary and cultural history.

The main topics covered during the course will include:

the concepts of the modern, modernity, and modernism;
the position of Modernism within Portuguese literary and historical context;
the main precursors of Modernism (Cesário Verde, António Nobre, Camilo Pessanha);
Portuguese Modernism and the avant-gardes;
journals and manifestos of Modernism (particularly Orpheu);
the main authors of Portuguese Modernism (Fernando Pessoa, Mário de Sá-Carneiro, Almada Negreiros);
guided reading and analysis of literary texts.

1. Primary texts (Required readings)

PESSOA, Fernando, Un’affollata solitudine: poesie eteronime, ed. by Piero Ceccucci, Milan, BUR, 2012 (selected passages).

PESSOA, Fernando, Il mondo che non vedo. Poesie ortonime, Milan, BUR, 2009 (selected passages).

PESSOA, Fernando, Il libro dell’inquietudine, ed. by O. Abbati, Rome, Newton Compton, 2013 (selected passages).

Recommended primary readings

PESSOA, Fernando, Poesie, bilingual edition, ed. by O. Abbati, Rome, Newton Compton, 2014.

2. General and historical-literary background Required readings

TOCCO, Valeria, Breve storia della letteratura portoghese. Dalle origini ai giorni nostri, Rome, Carocci, 2020 (chapter about Modernism).

Recommended readings

RUSSO, Vincenzo; VECCHI, Roberto, La letteratura portoghese: i testi e le idee, Florence, Le Monnier, 2017 (chapters on Modernism).

3. Critical studies (Recommended readings)

TABUCCHI, Antonio, Un baule pieno di gente. Scritti su Fernando Pessoa, Milan, Feltrinelli, 1990.

CRESPO, Ángel, La vita plurale di Fernando Pessoa, Milan, Bietti, 2014.

The exam consists of a written assignment composed of five questions: one longer open-ended question, worth up to 10 points, and four shorter open-ended questions, worth up to 5 points each.

During the course, students may complete a mid-term written assignment (partial exam), which will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. In case of a non-passing result, the assignment may be revised and resubmitted, and will subsequently be discussed in a seminar.

Students who complete the optional written assignment and participate in the seminar will be allowed to answer three questions instead of five in the final exam and may consult their own work during the test.

Answers are expected to consist of well-argued personal commentaries, demonstrating knowledge of the topics covered, understanding of the texts, and their placement within the historical and cultural context.

As for the expected length of the answers:

approximately one page for the longer question;
approximately half a page for each of the shorter questions.

written

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

The final grade will be determined on the basis of the following criteria:

knowledge of the topics covered (up to 12 points);
ability to understand and analyse literary texts (up to 5 points);
clarity, coherence, and organisation of written expression (up to 3 points);
appropriate use of language and basic disciplinary terminology (up to 5 points);
ability to develop a personal argument, even if guided (up to 5 points).

The maximum score is 30/30. Honours (lode) may be awarded in the case of outstanding performance in all the criteria listed above.

The course includes lectures complemented by moments of discussion and interaction with students, aimed at developing reading comprehension and basic analytical skills.

During the course, guided reading and analysis of literary texts will be carried out, with particular attention to the acquisition of study methods and basic tools for the interpretation of literary and cultural phenomena.

Workshop-style activities will also be included, such as:

exercises in text comprehension and commentary;
guided analysis of thematic and stylistic aspects;
historical and cultural contextualisation of authors and works.

Classes may include the use of supplementary materials (texts, images, documents, digital resources) to support understanding and to foster progressive learning.

Active student participation is encouraged through questions, contributions, and short classroom discussions.

The lecturer is available for academic guidance and for clarification of course contents throughout the semester, during office hours. Appointments may also be requested via email.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development