The history of Brazilian literature begins in 1500 with the arrival of the Portuguese in Brazil. This is because the societies that were here were unwritten, that is, they did not have a written representation.
Thus, literary production begins when the Portuguese write about their impressions of the land they found and the peoples who lived here.
Although they are diaries and historical documents, these represent the first written manifestations in Brazilian territory.
Brazilian Literature Division
Brazilian literature is subdivided into two great eras that accompany the political and economic evolution of the country.
THE colonial era and the National era they are separated by a transition period that corresponds to the political emancipation of Brazil.
The dates that delimit the end and beginning of each era are, in fact, milestones where a period of ascension and another of decay are accentuated. The ages are divided into literary schools, also called period styles.
colonial era
The colonial era of Brazilian literature began in 1500 and goes on until 1808. It is divided into 16th century, 16th century or Baroque and 18th century or Arcadianism. Receives this name because in that period Brazil was a colony of Portugal.
16th century
O 16th century is recorded during the 16th century. This is the generic name for a set of texts that highlighted Brazil as a new land to be conquered. The two literary manifestations of the period are the literature of information and the literature of the Jesuits.
The first has a more informative and historical character about the country; and the second, written by Jesuits, brings together pedagogical aspects.
The work that deserves most attention is the Letter from Pero Vaz de Caminha. Written in Bahia in 1500, the chief scribe of Pedro Álvares Cabral's troop describes his impressions of the new land to the king of Portugal.
Baroque
O Baroque it is the period that extends between 1601 and 1768. It starts with the publication of the poem Prosopopoeia, by Bento Teixeira and ends with the foundation of Arcadia Ultramarina, in Vila Rica, Minas Gerais.
Brazilian literary Baroque develops in Bahia against the backdrop of the sugar economy. Two literary styles that marked this school were: cultism and conceptism.
The first uses a very far-fetched language and, therefore, is also characterized by 'word play'. The second works with the presentation of concepts, therefore, it is pointed out as a 'game of ideas'.
One of the greatest representatives was the poet Gregório de Matos, known as the "mouth of hell". Besides him, Father Antônio Viera and his Sermons.
Arcadianism
O Arcadianism it is the period that extends from 1768 to 1808 and whose authors are closely linked to the Inconfidência movement in Minas Gerais.
Now, the background is the economy linked to the exploration of gold and precious stones. In addition, the relevant role played by the city of Vila Rica (Ouro Preto) stands out.
Simplicity, exaltation of nature and bucolic themes are the main characteristics of this literary school.
In Brazil, this movement begins with the publication of “Poetic Works”, by Cláudio Manuel da Costa, in 1768. Besides him, the poet Tomás Antônio Gonzaga and his work “Marília de Dirceu” (1792).
Transition period
The so-called transition period takes place between 1808 and 1836. It is considered an inert moment in Brazilian literature, marked by the arrival of the French Artistic Mission in 1816, contracted by Dom João IV.
National era
The National Era of Brazilian Literature begins in 1836 and lasts until the present day. It begins with Romanticism and runs through Realism, Naturalism, Parnassianism, Symbolism, Pre-Modernism, Modernism and Post-modernism.
It receives this name because it took place after the independence of Brazil, in 1822. In this period, nationalism is a strong feature, notorious in romantic and modern literature.
Romanticism
This is the first literary school to record a genuinely Brazilian movement. O Romanticism in Brazil begins in 1836, with the publication of the work Poetic Sighs and Longing, by Gonçalves Magalhães.
It lasted until 1881, when Machado de Assis and Aluísio de Azevedo published works with a Realist and Naturalist orientation.
The romantic period in Brazil is divided into three phases. In the first one we have a strong nationalist charge, where the Indian is elected a national hero (Indianism). The most important authors are José de Alencar and Gonçalves Dias.
In the second moment, the main themes explored are linked with pessimism and egocentrism, where Álvares de Azevedo and Casimiro de Abreu stand out. In the third phase, the change is notorious with 'freedom' as the main motto. The main representatives are Castro Alves and Sousândrade.
Realism
O Realism in Brazil begins in 1881 when Machado de Assis publishes The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas.
The main characteristics are objectivism and the veracity of facts, which are explored through a descriptive and detailed language. Social, urban and everyday themes are presented by the writers of the period.
Opposed to romantic ideals, the idea was to show a trustworthy portrait of society. In addition to Machado de Assis, Raul Pompeia and Visconde de Taunay are also worthy of mention.
Naturalism
O Naturalism in Brazil begins in 1881 with the publication of the work the mulatto of Aluisio de Azevedo.
Parallel to realism, this literary movement also intended to present a trustworthy portrait of society, however, with a more colloquial language.
Like the previous movement, naturalism was opposed to romantic ideals and presented too much detail in the descriptions. However, it is a more exaggerated realism where your characters are pathological. Furthermore, sensualism and eroticism are hallmarks of this literary production.
The work the tenement (1890) by Aluísio de Azevedo is a good example of the naturalist prose developed in the period. Besides him, stands out Adolfo Ferreira Caminha and his work The Normalist,published in 1893.
Parnassianism
O Parnassianism its starting point is the publication of the work. fanfares, by Teófilo Dias, in 1882. This is also another literary school that parallels realism and naturalism. However, its proposal was quite different and therefore, it was classified independently.
Although the authors of the period chose themes related to reality, the concern was the perfection of forms.
"Art for art's sake" is the main motto of the movement. During this period, values were essentially focused on poetic aesthetics, such as meter, rhymes and versification.
In this way, there was a strong preference for fixed forms, for example, the sonnet. The writers who stood out in this period formed the "Parnasian Triad": Olavo Bilac, Alberto de Oliveira and Raimundo Correia.
Symbolism
O Symbolism begins in 1893 with the publication of Missal and Brockets, by Cruz e Souza. It goes back to the beginning of the 20th century, when the Week of Modern Art takes place.
The main characteristics of this literary school are subjectivism, mysticism and imagination.
Thus, the writers of the period, supported by aspects of the subconscious, sought to understand the human soul, exalting subjective reality. The poetic works of Alphonsus de Guimarães and Augusto dos Anjos stand out. The latter already presents some works of a pre-modernist character.
pre-modernism
O premodernism in Brazil it was a transitional phase between symbolism and modernism that took place at the beginning of the 20th century.
Here, some modern characteristics were already emerging, such as the break with academicism and the use of a colloquial and regional language.
The theme most explored by the writers of the period was focused on the Brazilian reality with social, political and historical themes.
With a great literary production, the writers stand out: Monteiro Lobato, Lima Barreto, Graça Aranha and Euclides da Cunha.
Modernism
O Modernism in Brazil is marked by Modern Art Week, held in São Paulo in 1922. It is the limit between the end and the beginning of a new era in national literature and in the arts as a whole.
Inspired by European artistic vanguards, the modernist movement proposes a break with academicism and traditionalism. This is how aesthetic freedom and various artistic experiments are presented at this moment.
This period was divided into three phases: the heroic phase, the consolidation phase and the post-modern phase.
With an intense poetic production, many writers stood out: Oswald de Andrade, Mário de Andrade, Manuel Bandeira, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Rachel de Queiroz, Cecília Meireles, Clarice Lispector, Jorge Amado, João Cabral de Melo Neto, Guimarães Rosa, Graciliano Ramos, Vinícius de Moraes, among others.
Postmodernism
Brazilian artistic production undergoes intense transformation after the end of 1945. So, the postmodernism it is a phase of new forms of expression that take place in literature, theater, cinema and the visual arts.
This new posture will shape the imagination through the absence of values, freedom of expression and strong individualism. Furthermore, the multiplicity of styles is a hallmark of the period.
THE contemporary Brazilian literature is composed of many writers: Ariano Suassuna, Millôr Fernandes, Paulo Leminski, Ferreira Gullar, Adélia Prado, Cora Coralina, Nélida Pinõn, Lya Luft, Dalton Trevisan, Caio Fernando Abreu, etc.
Don't stop there. There are more texts very useful for you:
- Literary Movements
- Literary Schools
- Period Styles
- 10 Brazilian Tales You Must Know
