A Independência em versos: Teixeira e Sousa e a história do Brasil por meio da epopeia

How is it possible to understand the discrepancy between a work that was conceived as monumental and its presence limited to the footnotes? Using this question as a starting point for this article, the aim is to discuss the historiographical and memorialistic intent expressed by the epic A Independência do Brasil, by Antônio Gonçalves Teixeira e Sousa (1812-1861), published in two volumes in 1847 and 1855. How is the history of a contemporary event portrayed in the poem? The purpose of reflecting on history through literature rests on the assumption of mutual interrogation between the two types of knowledge and is based, on the one hand, on a vigorous tradition of literary histories and, on the other, on the value given to historical material that, in a prescriptive way, composes the epic genre. To this end, the aim is to look at the reception of the poem by some of its contemporaries in order to identify common traits in its critical fortune. In addition, we intend to address how historical events are (re)constructed by the author with the purpose of not only narrating the country's history but, above all, celebrating it. Finally, we hope to offer a possible explanation for the secondary place given to Teixeira e Sousa's monument.