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Brazil is a large, multi-ethnic country, marked by deep social and geographical contrasts. This course will discuss different aspects of Brazilian culture and society through the analysis of representative works from Brazilian literature. By reading original texts in Portuguese, students will significantly improve their vocabulary and syntax while developing a sophisticated knowledge of Brazilian literature and culture.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title
Unit code
Requirement type
Description
Portuguese Language 3
SPLA52030
Pre-Requisite
Compulsory
Portuguese Language 1
SPLA52010
Pre-Requisite
Compulsory
This unit is available as free choice with knowledge of the target language.
Aims
On successful completion of this course unit, students will be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
Discuss key aspects of 19th and 20th century Brazilian literature.
Discuss important aspects of Brazilian culture and society and and how they are represented in literature.
Display literary analytical skills
Intellectual skills
Display cultural analytical skills (literary analysis, social and political analysis)
Practical skills
Significantly improve their ability to read Portuguese
Significantly improve vocabulary and syntax in Portuguese
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Demonstrate independent and critical thinking
Demonstrate an ability to present material and ideas individually and collectively in oral and written form.
An ability to participate in group discussions
An ability to participate in internet discussions
Assessment methods
Essay 1
20%
Essay 2
60%
Group presentation
10%
Online discussion board
10%
Feedback methods
written feedback on presentations
written feedback on essays (midterm and final)
written feedback on class participation and participation on discussion group
additional one-to-one feedback (during the consultation hour or by making an appointment)
Recommended reading
Bethell, Leslie. “The Independence of Brazil”, Cambridge History of Latin America, vol 3,(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984) pp. 157-196
Fausto, Boris. A Concise History of Brazil (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1999). SLC
Bosi, Alfredo. História Concisa da Literatura Brasileira. São Paulo: Cultrix, 1981
Caldwell, Helen. The Brazilian Othello of Machado de Assis : a study of 'Dom Casmurro. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1960.
Candido, Antonio. Formação da Literatura Brasileira.
Castro, Dácio Antonio. Roteiro de Leitura: Vidas Secas de Graciliano Ramos. São Paulo: Ática, 1997.
Gledson, John. The deceptive realism of Machado de Assis : a dissenting interpretation of "Dom Casmurro. Liverpool: F. Cairns, 1984.
Klobucka, Anna. “In Different Voices: Gender and Dialogue in Clarice Lispector’s Metafiction”. Women, Literature and Culture in the Portuguese-Speaking World. Ed. Cláudia Pazos Alonso. Lempeter, Wales: Edwin Mellen Press, 1996.
Levine, Robert. The History of Brazil. Palgrave.
Mathie, Barbara. “Feminism, Language, or Existentialism. The search for the self in the works of Clarice Lispector”. Subjectivity and Literature from the Romantics to the Present Day. Eds. Phillip Shaw and Peter Stockwell. London: Continuum, 1991.
Nunes, Benedito. Leitura de Clarice Lispector. São Paulo: Quíron, 1973.
Ramos, Maria Luisa. “Análise Estrutural de Primeiras Histórias”. Guimarães Rosa. Fortuna Crítica. Ed. Afrânio Coutinho. Rio: Civilização Brasileira, 1983,
Schwarz, Roberto. Duas Meninas. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 1997.