The remains of Ópera dos mortos: principles of its genesis

ABSTRACT This article aims to analyze the novel Ópera dos mortos (1967), by Autran Dourado, based on the methodological movement of genetic criticism, taking into account the methods incorporated in the production of a text. Thus, through documents found in Autran Dourado's personal archive – that is being organized in the Acervo dos Escritores Mineiros, located at the Federal University of Minas Gerais – as material for analysis and concepts based on genetic criticism – supported by Biasi's thoughts (2010), as well as Grésillon (2007), Hay (2007) e Salles (2006), the objective is to explore the genesis documents of Ópera dos mortos, in order to go through the process of construction of a work so relevant to brazilian literature. Given the above, genetic criticism presents itself as a method to articulate these questions in research into the writer's archive, which serves as an instrument capable of revealing writing practices, indicating new ways of perceiving the author and his creation. KEYWORDS: Genetic Criticism; Archive; Ópera Dos Mortos; Autran Dourado.