Inglês de Sousa e os Contos amazônicos (1893): uma proposta de leitura literária para a educação básica

Abstract

Current guidelines for secondary education point to pedagogical proposals that must consider certain elements, such as the articulation of different disciplines. When considering literature in this context, several possibilities for interdisciplinary work emerge, expanding students' exposure to literary reading beyond the exclusive scope of Portuguese or the disciplines within the area of Languages and their Technologies. Thus, it is possible to consider the Amazon through the lens of "Contos Amazônicos" (1893), by the Pará-born writer Inglês de Sousa, and broaden the discussion to other disciplines, such as Geography, History, Sociology, Biology, and others. Literature in basic education is of paramount importance, as reading literary texts can develop within us, as Candido (2011) points out, "a measure of humanity by making us more understanding and open to nature, society, and our fellow human beings." Based on this understanding, this work aims to present an interdisciplinary teaching proposal for high school students, focusing on the reading of "Contos amazônicos" (Amazonian Tales) by Inglês de Sousa. This approach fosters a discussion of the relationship between the earth and humanity, as presented by the author in his narratives. Reflecting on humanity's connection with the world and the nature around them, through literature, is a possibility of "postponing the end of the world," as Krenak points out, stating that we must broaden our existential horizons, enriching our subjectivities.