#Classic: The Lusiads

1. Late 16th century in Portugal
2. a epic narrative poem written in four parts.
3. Narrator: Vasco da Gama
4. The poem ends at a placed called The Island of Love,
5. where the ancient god  Bacchus, proclaims that the
6. Portuguese people have become like gods themselves.
7. The poem is a vehicle to praise Portugal in general
8. …and the plot is less important.

Parts:

• introduction — theme (glory of Portugal)  and heroes of the poem
• invocation – a prayer to the nymphs of the Tagus
• dedication – (to King Sebastian I of Portugal)
• narration  (the epic itself…voyages …see map )

Conclusion:

1. This is one of those
2. “must read and get it over with”  books.
3. I approached the book as a chore.
4. I had  very little interest in the Portuguese history and glory
5. while being  influenced by the intervention
6. …of the gods from Mt Olympus:
7. Venus Jove, Mercury, Mars, Bacchus and Neptune.
8. But it is a #Classic…so I just got on with it.
9. I read a few analyses of the story on internet
10. …to get an idea what lay ahead of me.
11. Then  I skimmed  the epic poem on my IPAD.
12. THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED!
13. I started to get interested in the royal house of Portugal!
14. Most of my reading reflects the
15. …royals of England, France..or The Netherlands.
16. Now I discovered the richness that is Portuguese history!
17. The perils that befall and baffle men at sea
18. …St. Elmo’s Fire, giant Adamastor  the personified Cape of Storms)
19. Neptune’s waves, Aeolus’s winds
20. …..nothing can stop the Portugese and Vasco da Gama!
21. Classic that is seldom seen on reading lists.
22. I can understand why.
23. #Classic for the #DieHards

Last thoughts:

1. The best way to tackle this epic story
2. …is  to  stop and  look up  in Wikipedia
3. some historical figures/battles  mentioned.
4. Example:  Inês de Castro in Canto 3
5. ….posthumously crowned queen of Portugal.
6. Example: Nuno Alvares Pereira in canto 4 …general who  assured
7. …Portugal’s independence. Became a monk and in 2009
8. …canonized by Pope Benedictus XVI St Constable. (feast day 6 November)
9. Example: King Manuel I  in canto 4 (1469-1521)
10. in 1495, King Manuel took the throne, and the country revived
11. ….its earlier mission to find a direct trade route to India
12. …with the help of Vasco da Gama. (narrator)
13. By this time, Portugal had established itself as one of
14. …the most powerful maritime countries in Europe.
15. We done with Portugal’s past history
16. …now Vasco de Gama can continue telling his story.
    
17. I found the history more interesting
18. …than the explorations in canto 5 – 10.

Quotes:

1. …a weak king can sap the courage of a strong people.
2. …a change of ruler can work a change in his people too.