A comparative reading of the provided texts indicates that Modernism significantly impacted Brazilian literature in the 1930s and 1940s. Candido’s excerpt highlights how Modernism’s formal and thematic innovations permeated Brazilian literature on two levels: specific and generic. At the specific level, these innovations directly altered the appearance of literary works. On the generic level, they fostered a rejection of old standards, making nonconformity and anti-conventionalism acceptable literary practices.
This widespread acceptance of Modernist principles, even by those who didn’t explicitly identify with the movement, led to a significant shift in literary style. The excerpt emphasizes a “purification of language,” characterized by increasing simplification and colloquial turns of phrase, breaking away from previous artificiality. Authors like Graciliano Ramos and Dionélio Machado, while not directly influenced by Modernism, benefited from this newfound freedom, their “stark dryness” becoming accepted as the new normal.
In poetry, the liberation was even more profound. Traditional forms became practically obsolete, paving the way for free verse and the flexible use of meter, aligning with the anti-sentimentalism and anti-emphasis characteristic of Modernism. This period witnessed the consolidation and diffusion of the Modernist poetic, alongside the mature production of leading figures like Manuel Bandeira and Mário de Andrade. The multiple-choice question further reinforces this point, identifying Bandeira and Andrade as examples of writers who matured their Modernist poetics during this era.
The second text presents a multiple-choice question highlighting the role of Manuel Bandeira and Mário de Andrade in the Modernist movement. The correct answer (C) states that these poets, having disseminated the Modernist poetic proposals of 1922, successfully matured them in the following decades. This reinforces Candido’s argument about the continued influence and development of Modernism throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
In conclusion, a comparative analysis reveals that Modernism profoundly impacted Brazilian literary landscape, fostering a climate of experimentation and innovation that extended beyond the movement’s initial proponents. The shift towards simplified language, free verse, and thematic unconventionality became defining features of the era, influencing writers across various styles and genres. The enduring legacy of key figures like Bandeira and Andrade cemented Modernism’s place as a transformative force in Brazilian literature.
