The aim of the course is to study in depth aspects and problems of twentieth-century literature. In particular, the aim of the course is to reflect on the forms, symbols and compositional methods of the work of José Saramago, the first Portuguese-language writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature (1998). Against the backdrop of Portuguese history in the 20th century, the salient phases of José Saramago's intellectual and artistic trajectory and themes will be outlined, starting with a reading of the novels ‘Memorial do Convento’, ‘Historia do cerco de Lisboa’, ‘Ensaio sobre a cegueira’ and ‘Levantado do chao’. Television interviews and Gonçalves Mendes' film “José e Pilar” will be screened. Through the analysis of the texts according to precise critical methodologies and by linking them to their historical and cultural context, students will be able to understand and assess the literary quality of the works they have read and commented on with full autonomy of judgement.

Specifically, the learning outcomes should be:
1) know the main traits and characters relating to twentieth-century literature;
2) to know how to analyse and comment on the texts in question
3) to be able to formulate judgements on the subject autonomously
4) be able to appropriately communicate what they have learnt:
5) to be able to understand and interpret similar literary phenomena not covered in the programme independently.