Introduction

Relevance of the Theme

The chronicle, although seemingly unpretentious, is a form of textual expression that has great importance in literature and society as a whole. It reflects everyday life, often with a dose of humor, irony, or melancholy, conveying a particular view of the world.

The chronicle stands out for its brevity and for being able to immediately capture the reader's attention, characteristics that make it widely used in media, such as newspapers and magazines. Moreover, the genre is an excellent tool for improving language and reading skills, as it requires precise mastery of word use and narrative techniques.

Contextualization

The study of the textual genre: chronicle is inserted at a crucial moment in the Portuguese Language curriculum, located in the transition from the 1st cycle to the 2nd cycle of Elementary Education.

Its introduction occurs after experimenting with and understanding other genres, such as tales, legends, and fables. Now, students advance to the study of a form of literary expression closer to our time, being able to make more direct connections with current reality.

Knowledge about the chronicle helps in forming more critical and effective readers, in addition to preparing students for the production of various texts, which go beyond the more rigid structures of tales and fables.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Textual genre: Genre, in language, refers to categorizations of texts, speeches, or speech, that share common characteristics. Each genre has a specific structure and is used in a particular context. In the case of the chronicle, its structure is looser and more flexible, adapting to the theme and the author's objective.

• Structure of the chronicle: Despite the structural freedom of the chronicle, it generally presents a short narrative, with an introduction, development, and conclusion. The introduction, or bricolage, brings a reflection usually related to everyday life. In the development, there is an explanation of the theme, often interspersed with dialogues and everyday episodes. The conclusion generally brings a final reflection or outcome of the theme addressed.

• Creation of scenarios and characters: Chronicles often involve the creation of scenarios and characters. These elements are used to situate the reader in the environment and context of the facts. The characters can be real or fictitious people who experience everyday situations. The scenarios can vary from the description of a neighborhood to a work environment.

• Author's style: The author's style is present in the use of words, phrase constructions, figures of speech, among other elements. This personal mark of the author is fundamental to differentiate chronicles from different writers.

Key Terms

• Bricolage: A term originated from French art, which in literature refers to the practice of gathering fragments, references, and distinct elements to create a new work. In the chronicle, bricolage occurs in the introduction, where the author introduces various themes before delving into the central theme.

• Flash: The term "flash" in the chronicle refers to a moment of perception, a scene, a dialogue, that reveals something about life and the world, captured by the sensitivity of the chronicler. This "flash" often breaks the linearity of the narrative, making the chronicle resemble a snapshot.

Examples and Cases

• "The Blue Diamond" (Rubem Braga): In this chronicle, the author uses the metaphor of a "blue diamond" to talk about losses and reunions in life. The text is an example of bricolage, as it starts with a digression about the color blue and ends with a reflection on human relations.

• "The everyday and the poetry" (Marina Colasanti): This chronicle highlights the poetic perception of the author about everyday situations in life. It is a chronicle that uses the flash resource a lot, bringing small moments of epiphany.

• "Change the blade" (Fernando Sabino): In this chronicle, the author uses a banal episode - changing a razor blade – to talk about changes and learning in life. It is an example of how a common everyday theme can be transformed into a meaningful and reflective text.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points

• Nature of the chronicle: The chronicle is defined as a form of literary expression that captures and portrays everyday life, commonly presenting an ironic or poetic look. Its bricolage in the introduction and use of flash make the text fragile, loose, and tacitly playful.

• Structure of the chronicle: Chronicles are often composed of an introduction that allows for bricolage, a development that presents the main theme, and a conclusion that brings an outcome or a final reflection.

• Creation of scenarios and characters: The characterization of these elements is a means to situate and contextualize the reader in the universe of the facts. The characters can be real or fictitious, and the scenarios can vary, broadening the thematic diversity.

• Author's style: It is the individual mark of the writer in his writing, revealing itself in lexical choices, phrase constructions, and the use of figures of speech. The style is crucial to differentiate chronicles written by different authors.

Conclusions

• Proximity to reality: The main characteristic of the chronicle is its strong connection with real life, which makes it an excellent tool for social, behavioral, or political analysis.

• Versatility of the genre: The chronicle, due to its more flexible structure, allows authors versatility in choosing themes and approaches, enabling the discussion of various subjects.

• Enhanced skills: The study of the chronicle helps in improving reading and writing skills, especially with regard to text interpretation and the correct use of the Portuguese language.

Exercises

1. Identification of chronicles: Read three short texts and identify which one corresponds to the structure of a chronicle, explaining the reason for your choice.

2. Analysis of style: Compare the literary style of two different chroniclers, highlighting the differences and similarities found in the use of words, phrase constructions, and figures of speech.

3. Textual production: Write a chronicle of no more than one page, using the studied elements, such as bricolage, flash, creation of scenarios and characters, and your own style.