A arte da poesia

: da teoria às práticas docentes : a poesia no Terceiro Ciclo do Ensino Básico

Abstract

The art of poetry: from theory to teachers’ educational practices The Art Of Poetry is at the core of the present master’s dissertation where the word “art” is understood as the virtuosistic ability of poetry to transform the self. While the first part of the dissertation expounds the theoretical framework of the “Art of Poetry”, the second part presents the empirical framework. Emphasises is placed on the power of poetry to educate pupils to the poetic sense, to sublimate violence, to give meaning to their lives and to create successful and intelligent minds. The metaphor - regarded as the natural resource of poetry – is presented as a means of promoting individual thought. Accent is also put on the advantages of out loud reading as a means for pupils to control their anxiety, to strengthen their self-esteem, their self-confidence and their autonomy. Poetry teaching methods are then focused on, and the Portuguese National Curriculum – especially the recommendations provided to teachers as regards the approach of poetry – is put under scrutiny. The most suitable practices for the approach of poetry with pupils are enhanced, and the shortcomings in teacher training in the matter of the didactics of poetry are pointed out. Reference is made to Pedagogical Supervision and more particularly to its reflective dimension – the fact that teachers’ reflection upon their teaching practises enables them to change those practises as well as further their self-development. The focus is then placed on the second part of the title of the dissertation that is “from theory to teachers’ educational practices”, and the methodology used is one of a qualitative type: year 8 and year 9 teachers as well as pupils who attend those classes were interviewed, so as to scrutinize teachers’ practice as regards poetry. The qualitative processing of the collected data is managed trough content analyses in order to obtain meaningful results. Assessed data enable us to conclude that most of teachers’ educational practices in the field of poetry give continuity to theory, and therefore evolve in the right direction. What has helped to improve teachers’ practices was the specific ongoing training in that area. However, the eventual impact of poetry on the sublimation of violence remains uncertain. And as yet unknown is the deepest educational value of poetry, in particular for the personal and social fulfilment of the self in the world.

Date of Award	17 Dec 2011
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	José Matias Alves (Supervisor)