Literary Schools are the ways in which literature is divided according to the characteristics presented in each of them. This division depends, among other aspects, mainly on historical moments.
Also called literary movements, literary schools are divided into eras, which are: it was colonial and it was national.
Colonial Era Schools
Colonial-era schools reflect the influence of Portuguese literature, after all, it emerged with the discovery of Brazil until a few years before its independence.
| Schools | Characteristics | Authors and Works |
|---|---|---|
| Quinhentismo (1500 – 1601) | Informative and pedagogical texts. | Pero Vaz de Caminha – Letter from Pero Vaz de Caminha to el-rei D. ManuelGândavo – Brazil’s Land TreatyJosé de Anchieta – Poem to the Virgin |
| Baroque (1601 – 1768) | It is characterized by details, exaggeration and refinement. In it, cultism and conceptism stand out. | Gregório de Matos – Triste BahiaBento Teixeira – ProsopopeiaBotelho de Oliveira – Parnaso Music |
| Arcadism (1768 – 1808) | Exaltation of nature and simple language. This literary period is marked mainly by the simplicity of the topics covered. | Cláudio Manuel da Costa – Poetic WorksSanta Rita Durão – CaramuruTomás Antônio Gonzaga – Marília de Dirceu |
Between the years 1808 and 1836 there is a transition phase.
National Era Schools
Schools of the national era are characterized by the autonomy of Brazilian literature, whose country, at that moment, is already independent.
| Schools | Characteristics | Authors and Works |
|---|---|---|
| Romanticism (1836 – 1881) | Each of the phases of Romanticism has different characteristics:1st phase : nationalism and Indianism2nd phase : egocentrism and pessimism3rd phase : freedom | 1st phase : Gonçalves Dias – Canção do Exílio2nd phase : Álvares de Azevedo – Lira dos Vinte Anos3rd phase : Castro Alves – O Navio Negreiro |
| Realism Naturalism Parnasianism (1881 – 1893) | Realism : objectivity, social themes, objective languageNaturalism : language closer to the colloquial, controversial themeParnasianism : art for art, cult of form | Realism : Machado de Assis – Posthumous Memories of Brás CubasNaturalism : Aluísio de Azevedo – O MulatoParnasianism : Olavo Bilac – Treaty of Versification |
| Symbolism (1893 – 1910) | Subjectivism, spirituality and mysticism are characteristics that reflect the style of this school. | Cruz e Sousa – Tropes and FantasiesAlphonsus de Guimarães – KyrialeAugusto dos Anjos – Me |
| Pre-Modernism (1910 – 1922) | Pre-Modernism breaks with academicism, in addition to being marked by the marginality of its characters. | Euclides da Cunha – Os SertõesLima Barreto – Sad End of Policarpo QuaresmaGraça Aranha – Canaã |
| Modernism (1922 – 1950) | Modernism is divided into three phases, characterized by:1st phase : aesthetic renewal, radicalism2nd phase : nationalist themes3rd phase : linguistic innovations and artistic experiments | 1st phase : Manuel Bandeira – Libertinage2nd phase : Graciliano Ramos – Vidas Secas3rd phase : Clarice Lispector – The Foreign Legion |
| Postmodernism (1950 – today) | Spontaneity, artistic freedom, multiplicity of styles and combination of trends are the main marks of this literary school. | Ariano Suassuna – Auto da CompadecidaMillôr Fernandes – Millôr Definitivo: The Bible of ChaosPaulo Leminski – Now it’s them |