Conto das artes diabólicas - transfiguration and therianthropy: a literary reading proposal for the 1st cycle of basic education

Abstract

Introduction: The popular tale constitutes a brief narrative that, as Reis (1987, p. 79) states, does not have roots in the world of consecrated culture, but is part of traditional literature of oral transmission and perpetuates with vitality and brilliance the relevance of a heritage cultural and literary of irrefutable prestige.

In the current curriculum document, Aprendizagens Essenciais – Ensino Básico (2018), the short story has a permanent place in all years of the schooling cycle, not only due to its cultural and linguistic potential, but also due to its didactic virtues and the receptivity of students, who are accustomed to children's tales and stories that have been a delight since childhood and, specifically, throughout pre-school education.

Objetive: The essay we're analysing aims to achieve the main objective of motivating people to read and to bring together very appealing themes such as the fantastic, the magical and the marvellous, which are so popular with students in this age group.

Methods: Documentary textual analysis and verification of evidence.

Results: Trindade Coelho's Conto das Artes Diabólicas is therefore a reading suggestion that, despite being included in the curriculum documents for Year 7, can easily and delightfully be brought forward to the previous cycle.

Conclusion: We will therefore see how it is possible to explore aspects such as fantasy, magic, metamorphic transfiguration, therianthropy, the eternal struggle between good and evil, and to capitalise on this text as a motivation for reading, in a way that seduces and, at the same time, revives the cultural and traditional heritage of Portuguese literature.