Introduction

Relevance of the Theme

The study of Literary and Non-Literary Text is a fundamental milestone within the Portuguese discipline, as it provides the necessary tools for the identification and understanding of various textual genres. By mastering this differentiation, students can develop more precise reading and interpretation skills, thus expanding their communicative and critical abilities.

The ability to identify and distinguish a literary text from a non-literary one is a transversal skill that appears in various spheres of the student's life. It allows them to recognize the formal and informal elements of language, optimize the interpretation of diverse texts, and adapt their expression to different communication situations.

Contextualization

The study of Literary and Non-Literary Text plays a crucial role in the curricular structure, positioning itself after the in-depth analysis of textual genres and before the beginning of more complex literary analyses. Its strategic location in the Portuguese discipline allows the student to build a solid foundation of textual comprehension, which will facilitate the assimilation of future content.

This theme fits within the axis of literary studies and acts as a bridge between reading and writing, as the differentiation between literary and non-literary texts provides students with subsidies for producing texts with specific characteristics. Thus, the subject also interconnects with other areas of the curriculum, such as writing, history, social sciences, among others.

By the end of this study, students will be able to autonomously recognize and identify whether a text is of a literary or non-literary nature, as well as justify their choices with well-founded arguments, promoting subjective and objective criteria.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Literary Text: These are texts created through the act of writing artistically, using language as a form of expression. In general, they are creative productions that associate images and feelings, focusing on aesthetic effects. Literary Text has specific characteristics, such as: elaborate and suggestive language, frequent use of figures of speech, presence of a subjective character, concern with aesthetics and textual harmony.

  • Literary Textual Genres: poem, short story, chronicle, novel, novella, etc.

• Non-Literary Text: These are texts that do not have this artistic character and are not produced with the aim of creating aesthetic beauty. They have a practical, persuasive, or informative function. Non-Literary Text is more concerned with objectivity and the transmission of knowledge, and is generally written in a more direct and utilitarian manner.

  • Non-Literary Textual Genres: scientific article, instruction manual, newspaper news, medicine leaflet, etc.

Key Terms

• Literary Language: Uses words in their broadest and deepest sense, thus creating images and emotions in the reader. The purpose is to convey beauty, emotion, reflection, and aesthetic pleasure.

• Non-Literary Language: Characterized by its more objective and functional nature, aiming to convey information, instruct, persuade, among others. The main focus is on the clarity and precision of the message.

• Textual Genres: These are the different types of texts that circulate in society. Each genre is characterized by its specific structures and communicative purposes.

Examples and Cases

• Literary Text: A poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade, in which the author, through a language full of metaphors and wordplay, expresses his view on daily life and human emotions.

• Non-Literary Text: A newspaper news article that informs clearly and objectively about an event, without using stylistic or poetic resources.

Analyzing these examples will allow students to identify the distinctive characteristics of literary and non-literary language, as well as demonstrate how these differ in their approach, style, and purpose.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points

• Nature of the Text: The distinction between literary and non-literary texts is fundamentally based on their nature: literary text is an artistic creation intended to express feelings, ideas, and emotions, while non-literary text seeks to inform, persuade, or instruct in a clear and objective manner.

• Language Characteristics: The use of language is a distinctive feature between the two types of texts. Literary language is rich, suggestive, subjective, and uses figures of speech, while non-literary language is more direct, objective, and utilitarian.

• Focus and Intention: The author of a literary text is more concerned with the aesthetic effect, emotional impact, and reflection that their words will generate in the reader, while the author of a non-literary text is more focused on transmitting information, persuasion, or instruction.

• Rereading and Perception: The ability to identify the nature of the text is a skill that improves with practice and critical reading. In addition, texts can contain elements of both types, which requires a more thorough analysis to determine their classification.

Conclusions

• The distinction between literary and non-literary texts lies in the nature of language and the author's intention, which is directly reflected in the reader's perception and interpretation.

• Familiarity with different textual genres, both literary and non-literary, is essential for the development of critical and effective reading and writing.

• Mastering the difference between the two types of texts provides a more comprehensive understanding of language and generates a more conscious interaction with texts in various communication situations.

Exercises

1. Text Identification: Provide students with a list of various texts and ask them to identify whether each one is of a literary or non-literary nature. Request that they justify their choices based on language characteristics and the author's focus.

2. Text Comparison: Present students with a pair of texts, one literary and the other non-literary, with similar themes or approaches. Ask them to identify the differences in language, author's style, and the purpose of each text.

3. Text Rewriting: Distribute short excerpts of texts to students and ask them to rewrite each one, transforming the literary text into a non-literary one and vice versa. This will help consolidate the understanding of the specific characteristics of each type of text.