31357 - Portuguese and Brazilian Literature 3

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide basic and weel structured competencies in Portuguese cultural history. More specifically, it considers all the period of the Nation and the Empire fundation and decline, taking into account the main historic directresses and essential concepts in a continuous counterpoint with the principle cultural prudctions.

Course contents

The course is structured in two parts, the first devoted to the Portuguese Literature and the second to the Brazilian one. The first part is entitled “Portugal from the formation of the Nation to the Empire (with a special regard about Camoes' works) focusses a literary and cultural reflection on Portuguese history since the remote origins (in XII century) of Portugal to the  magnificence and decay of the Empire in XVI century, conditioned by the Atlantic expansion and the colonial projects. Inside the general view, particular attention will be directed to the epic masterpiece by Luís de Camões, Os Lusíadas (1572) which represents the aesthetic apogee and the most representative historic-cultural epitome of the examined period. The second part is entitled “Brazil colony will be another Portugal?. myths and symbols of the brazilian colonial culture" and devoted to deepen lusophone american colonial culture as a part of the Portuguese metropolitan culture. It deals with foundamental archives to study the imagination and the stereotypes carachterizing the futur indipendent brazilian culture. In the general view, a particular attention will be directed to the camonian influences on the epic colonial production, such as in Caramuru by Santa Rita Durão (1781).

Specific lessons for the students of the 2nd and 3th year, in paticular dedicated to text reading, will be given in Portuguese

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography:

Portuguese Section

-Valeria Tocco, Breve storia della letteratura portoghese, Roma Carocci, 2011 (capp.1 e 2)

-José Hermano SaraivaStoria del Portogallo, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2004 (dalle origini ad Alcácer Quibir)  

-Eduardo Lourenço, Il labrinto della saudade. Portogallo come destino, Reggio Emilia: Diabasis, 2013   - Luís de Camões, I Lusiadi, Milano, BUR, 2001 (canti 1-4-5-9 e 10)   -G. Ricciardi e R. Barchiesi, Antologia della letteratura Portoghese. Testi e traduzioni, Napoli, Tullio Pironti, 1998 (dalle origini a Camões) ovvero G. Lanciani, Profilo di storia linguistica e letteraria del Portogallo (dalle origini al seicento) Roma Bulzoni, 1999 (dalle origini a Camões)

Brazilian Section  

-Luciana Stegagno Picchio, Storia della letteratura Brasiliana, Torino, Einaudi, 1997  (capp.I-IV)

-Boris Fausto, Storia del Brasile, Cagliari Fabula, 2010 (capp. 1 e 2, parte coloniale)

-G Ricciardi Scrittori brasiliani Tullio Pironti 2003 (Parte  Prima, il Brasile coloniale)

-Pêro Vaz de Caminha, Carta do achamento, a cura di A., Unnali, Milano, Cisalpino, 1984.

-Sérgio Buarque de Holanda, Radici del Brasile, Firenze, Giunti, 2000 (capp. I-IV)

The students tha cannot attend the course are asked to contact the Professor.

Teaching methods

The lessons (partly in Portuguese for the students of the 2nd and 3th years), based on the connection between concepts and contexts, will be followed by a seminar discussion on a selected bibliography. Individual readings on the main primary resources introduced during the course supported by a tutor during the preparation of the final test.

Assessment methods

The final exam is the result of partial tests. At the end of each module, it will be proposed a test structured in 10 questions on the main conceptual and contextual issues of the section in exam. About a week after the test, the students will participate in the interview related to the readings of the part in question. The final grade will therefore be made ​​up of the results of the two tests of the two partial exams and oral interviews. These trials will test the capacity of understanding the main concepts exposed during the course, connected to a descriptive knowledge of the analyzed contexts and the ability to naviagte among the assigned readings, enhancing the capacity of synthesis and precision of expression especially about the conceptual keys. In terms of evaluation, an accurate knowledge of concepts, contexts and texts, combined with an effective capacity of argument, will be judged with the top score. A general knowledge of the historical and literary context and the main sources used but lacking a precise conceptual framework will be evaluated favorably even with intermediate results, while a purely manualistic or fragmentary knowledge of the structure of the course, although sufficient for the purpose of reporting the general framework of the course, it will get only a sufficient feedback. In this context, the expositive capacity, combined with a proper conceptual and terminological precision, contributes to improve the overall outcome of the exam.

Teaching tools

The course defines a strict dialogue between literatures and cultures for the period in exam. For this reason, beside literary texts, to which a specific workshop (reading and commenting) will pay special attention, other multemedia and internet contents will be introduced, in order to build an organic and clear framework of the historical context in discussion. Materials and audio of the lessons are made ​​available to students for a better prepration of the course.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/roberto.vecchi

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Vecchi