RIBEIRO, Sandriana Lucena.
Abstract:
This research analyzes the socio-literary aspects present in the poetry of the popular
poet Patativa do Assaré. By the investigation of his biography and the analysis of his
poetic craft, it aims at demonstrating in general terms Assaré’s strong social
commitment. In the light of a bibliographical review, we have the specific objectives of
exploring the main historical, oral and written aspects of popular literature; reflecting
on the relationship between literature and society; to examine the life and work of
Patativa do Assaré, evidencing through the analysis of the corpus poems "Eu quero"
and "O agregado", the poetic language, the formal aspect, and especially, the social
complaining content of Patativa citizen poetry. In order to do so, we have used works
that deal with the thematic in question and we found theoretical support in
publications such as Burke (2010), Cascudo (2006), Goldstein (2001), Luyten (1992)
and Luciano (2012) and critical works such as Feitosa (2003), Nuvens (1995),
Carvalho (2001) and Brito (2010). The analysis results confirm that the poet assumes
a clearly social posture not by the simple description of the local country scene, but
because he seeks through the representation of the life and dramas of poor people,
give voice to the oppressed. Patativa makes his poetic craft an instrument of fight for
the claim of rights lacking to the country man, rural worker, but not only theirs. His
civic poetry also assumes new angles when it reaches national situations and
characters of urban environment. The final considerations highlight the Patativa’s
poetry importance as a poetics of social diction and as an expression of the
countryside man -- sertanejo, besides reflecting on the opportunity of both academic
and educational settings to study popular literature and its poets.
