On May 1st, Brazilian Literature Day is celebrated, a date that reinforces the importance of valuing national authors and recognizing the cultural richness present in the works produced in the country. More than a tribute, this moment highlights the role of reading as an essential tool in the critical formation of students, contributing to the development of thinking, creativity and understanding of society.

According to Thiago Braga, author of Língua Portuguesa do Sistema de Ensino pH, the day has an especially relevant meaning when we look at initiatives such as that of the University Foundation for the Entrance Exam (Fuvest), a specific exam at the University of São Paulo (USP), which has incorporated mandatory works by historically neglected authors into its reading list.

“These are names that the general public is simply unaware of, not for lack of quality literarybut by a systematic erasure that spanned centuries. Narcisa Amália, for example, was the first woman to become a professional journalist in Brazil, her only book of poetry was praised by Machado de Assis himself and, even so, her name only appeared in a relevant literary study almost a hundred years after the publication of ‘Nebulas’”, he highlights.

Thiago Braga also provides an example with the story of author Julia Lopes de Almeida, who wrote about tenements before Aluísio Azevedo, supported her house with her own pen, circulated through the main literary salons in Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon and was practically wiped out of school textbooks.

“They are important voices that built part of our identity cultural without ever receiving due recognition. When Fuvest puts these works in front of hundreds of thousands of young people preparing for the university entrance exam, it is not just testing the literary repertoire: it is, in practice, giving these authors back the place that always belonged to them. It is a gesture of historical reparation with real pedagogical scope”, he explains.

Relevance of Brazilian literature in education

According to Ana Flávia, Portuguese Language teacher at Colégio Liceu Pasteur Start Anglo Trilingual School, the very existence of Brazilian Literature Day already highlights the relevance of literature in the educational context.

“The movement of listing a day of the year to honor something is, in itself, an action that demonstrates the relevance of a theme for society. In the case of Brazilian Literature Day, it is no different. With access to multiple references, the school has the opportunity to shed light on national production, presenting authors and works that speak directly to students”, he states.

The presence of Brazilian literature in entrance exams It’s not by chance either. For Ana Flávia, these works function as a lens to understand society. “Brazilian literature occupies a prominent place in the country’s entrance exams because it acts as a mirror of society. From these readings, a range of possibilities opens up: from discussions on structural issues to fictional enchantment with elements that speak directly to the reader. Here, the literary text works as a trigger for fundamental dialogues in the formation of future university students”, he explains.

Mandatory works by Fuvest

With this in mind, experts highlight 8 works that are part of Fuvest’s mandatory reading list, which applies to the USP entrance exam, and which can contribute to better preparation. strategic and efficient. Check it out!

1. Path of Stones (1937)

Written by Brazilian Rachel de Queiroz, the work follows young activists in Ceará in the 1930s and explores conflicts between individual freedom and collective ideals, based on Noemi’s trajectory.

2. The Passion according to GH (1964)

Written by Brazilian Clarice Lispector, the book is an introspective novel that delves into the deconstruction of identity and language, with a strong existentialist character.

3. Ballad of Love in the Wind (1990)

Written by Brazilian Paulina Chiziane, the work addresses the condition of African women and the conflicts between tradition and modernity in societies patriarchal.

4. Big Boy Lullaby (2018)

Written by the Brazilian Conceição Evaristo, the work works on black affections through the concept of scribing — writing and living —, reflecting on identity, history and belonging.

5. The Vision of Plants (2019)

Written by Brazilian Djaimilia Pereira de Almeida, the book proposes a reflection on historical and aesthetic guilt, questioning the coexistence between beauty and violence.

6. Humanitarian Booklet (1853)

Written by Brazilian Nísia Floresta, the work defends female education and criticizes gender inequality, proposing greater intellectual appreciation of women in society.

7. Nebulas (1872)

Written by the Brazilian Narcisa Amália, it is a book of poems that express intimate feelings, social reflections and critical positions, with a strong mark of romanticism.

8. Memoirs of Martha (1899)

Written by Brazilian Julia Lopes de Almeida, the work narrates the trajectory of a young woman and addresses topics such as education, female autonomy and social roles at the end of the 19th century.

By Patricia Buzaid