Portuguese literature covers eight centuries of production. The first records date from the 12th century, when the expulsion of the Arabs from the Iberian Peninsula occurs and with the formation of the Portuguese State.
First, the reports were written in “Galician-Portuguese”. This was due to the cultural and linguistic integration between Portugal and Galicia.
This region belonging to Spain and still today the ties with the Portuguese people, are linked through culture and economy.
Portuguese literature follows the great historical transformations. These are the influences that dictate the divisions and subdivisions of literary production in: Medieval Era, Classic Era, Romantic or Modern Era.
The ages are subdivided into literary schools or period styles.
The Medieval Era
The Medieval Era of Portuguese literature is divided between First Epoch (troubadour) and Second Epoch (humanism).
It begins in the early 12th century with the publication of the text Canção Ribeirinha , also known as Canção de Guarvaia , by Paio Soares de Taiverós. This work is considered the oldest in Portuguese literature.
Troubadour – First Season
The Galician-Portuguese lyric occurs between 1189, date of publication of Song riverfront until 1434, when Ferdinand Lopes was appointed chief chronicler of Torre do Tombo. During the Troubadour, there are manifestations in poetry, prose and theater.
Troubadour poetry is subdivided between:
- Lyric Poetry : Cantigas de Amor and Cantigas de Amigo;
- Satirical Poetry : Cantigas de Escárnio and Cantigas de Maldizer.
Within medieval prose, literary manifestations are subdivided into Novelas de Cavalaria, Hagiografias, Cronicões and Nobiliários. In the theater, the subdivision is called Mysteries, Miracles and Morals.
Humanism – Second Season
The Humanismo extends from 1434 to 1527, and is considered a transition period of medieval culture for classical culture. It begins with the appointment of Fernão Lopes as chief chronicler of Torre do Tombo, in 1418.
During this period, poetry is classified as Palatial Poetry . The author Fernão Lopes is the main representative of humanist prose and, in the theater, Gil Vicente .
Classical Era
The classic era of Portuguese literature occurred between the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. As in the Medieval Era, it featured demonstrations in poetry, prose and theater. This phase is divided into three periods:
Classicism (1527-1580)
The Classicism has as starting point the Miranda de Sá arrival in Italy. Cradle of the Renaissance, the Portuguese poet brought a new style known as “ dolce stil nuevo ” (Sweet new style).
Without a doubt, Luís de Camões , was the main representative of the moment with his epic poetry Os Lusíadas .
17th century or Baroque (1580-1756)
The initial landmark of the Baroque in Portugal is the death of the writer Luís de Camões in 1580. This period lasted until 1756 with the arrival of a new style: Arcadism.
Without a doubt Father Antônio Vieira was the greatest representative of the period from which his Sermons stand out . These works were written in a conceptist style, where the work with the concepts was the most important.
Seventies or Arcadism (1756-1825)
Also called Neoclassicism, Arcadism in Portugal had as its starting point the foundation of Arcádia Lusitana in 1756 in the capital, Lisbon.
These places served for the meeting of several artists committed to presenting a new aesthetic and moving away from the previous one.
Bocage was considered the greatest writer of the period and his works that deserve to be highlighted are: Death of D. Ignez de Castro , Elegia , Idylls Marítimos .
Modern Era
The Modern Era of Portuguese literature begins in 1825 and continues until the present period. It is divided into Romanticism (1825-1865), Realism, Naturalism and Parnasianism (1865-1890), Symbolism (1890-1915) and Modernism (1915 to the present day).
Romanticism (1825-1865)
The romanticism in Portugal begin with the publication of the work Camões Almeida Garret in 1825. For some scholars, this literary school starts in 1836 with the publication of The Prophet’s Voice , Alexandre Herculano.
At that time, the country was undergoing many transformations resulting from the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. This feeling of uncertainty and dissatisfaction is evident in the literary works that were produced in the period.
The main characteristics of Portuguese romanticism were: idealization, suffering, homesickness, nationalism, subjectivism and medievalism. The writers stand out: Almeida Garret, Alexandre Herculano, Antônio Feliciano de Castilho, Camilo Castelo Branco and Júlio Dinis.
Realism (1865-1890)
The realism in Portugal has as starting point the “Question Coimbra.” She represented a dispute between some young literary students and students from Coimbra (Antero de Quental, Teófilo Braga and Vieira de Castro) and the romantic writer Antônio Feliciano de Castilho.
In spite of romantic ideals, realism had as its main characteristic the denial of feelings, which were exalted by the writers of romanticism. For that, the works written in that period were supported by scientism, objectivism and materialism.
The writers stand out: Antero de Quental and Eça de Queirós. The first had his work Os Sonetos , as the main one of the period. Eça de Queirós, on the other hand, revealed his mastery in the novel O Primo Basílio .
Naturalism (1875-1890)
The naturalism in Portugal began with the publication of the book The Crime of Father Amaro (1875) of Eca de Queiros. Although Eça has had great prominence in the realism movement, some of his works carry notably naturalistic characteristics.
Parallel to the realist movement, naturalism has some characteristics that resemble such as the denial of the romantic, scientificism, objectivity and materialism.
On the other hand, his characters are marginalized and do not have much focus on the bourgeoisie as is the case with realism. At that moment, human characteristics and instincts are highlighted.
In addition to Eça de Queirós, the most outstanding writers in the period were Abel Botelho, Francisco Teixeira de Queirós and Júlio Lourenço Pinto.
Parnasianism (1870-1890)
The Parnassianism in Portugal also took place parallel to the realistic and naturalistic movements. Its precursor was the poet João Penha. Based on the motto “art for art”, the writers of that moment were more concerned with formal perfection than the content itself.
Thus, concern with aesthetics was the main characteristic of these works, the sonnet being a type of poem in a fixed form that prevailed. Our themes are everyday reality as well as classics. The main writers were: João Penha, Cesário Verde, António Feijó and Gonçalves Crespo.
Symbolism (1890-1915)
The symbolism in Portugal started with the publication of the work Oaristos (1890) by Eugênio de Castro. Opposed to previous movements, he rejects scientism, materialism and rationalism. Therefore, its main characteristics are musicality, transcendence and subjectivism.
The writers of that moment rely on metaphysical and spiritual manifestations to write their works. In addition to Eugênio de Castro, the poetic production of António Nobre and Camilo Pessanha stands out. This movement ends in 1915 with the advent of the modernist movement.
Modernism (1915 to the present day)
The modernism in Portugal begins in 1915 with the publication of the magazine Orpheus . This period was divided into three phases:
- Geração de Orpheu (1915-1927) that begins with the publication of the magazine Orpheu . Its main representatives were: Mário de Sá-Carneiro, Almada Negreiros, Luís de Montalvor and the Brazilian Ronald de Carvalho.
- Geração de Presença (1927-1940) that begins with the publication of the magazine Presença . Its main representatives were: Branquinho da Fonseca, João Gaspar Simões and José Régio.
- Neorealism (1940) that begins with the publication of Gaibéus , by Alves Redol. Besides him, other outstanding writers were: Ferreira de Castro and Soeiro Pereira Gomes.
Origins of Brazilian Literature
The origins of Brazilian literature are closely related to Portuguese literary aesthetics. The first manifestations of Brazilian literature occurred during the Colonial Period, in the 16th century. Unlike Portuguese literature, it is divided into two eras: it was colonial and it was national.