The need for teacher training in literary reading: a look at the construction of the black man in Úrsula

Abstract

The work with literature associated with important themes in our society arises from the need for actions that provoke reflection and change, which makes it a didactic tool of cultural, historical and temporal repercussion for the construction of a mentality that goes beyond common sense and equips students to position themselves towards citizen practices. In this perspective, this article presents discussions pertinent to a comparative reading between Maria Firmina dos Reis' "Úrsula" and Aluísio de Azevedo's "O Cortiço", highlighting the importance of teacher training for a literary approach that explores the stylistics, but recognizes its potentialities as a reflection and denunciation of society. The studies brought to light themes present in "Úrsula" by Maria Firmina dos Reis and her positioning as a spokesperson in the constitution of the identity of a fundamental portion of the people and society, since she was the first black woman to explore the territory of national literature. In the analysis of "Ursula", it became evident the author's concern in granting an environment in which the voice of the black man can be heard, so that he can tell his own story in a way never seen before in Brazilian Literature. Firmina's position in relation to this fundamental portion of Brazilian society reveals an avant-garde and revolutionary vision that deserves to be acknowledged and explored by research and studies.