Recognising the aggregating importance that authors such as Camilo Castelo Branco, Eça de Queirós and Luís de Camões have not only in terms of linguistic expression, but also in the formation of personal character and national collective identity, the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences at UCP - Braga has decided, on the initiative of the lecturers of its Degree in Portuguese Studies, to open a competition on the three authors and their literary creations to secondary school students from schools in the northern region.
Students will be challenged not only to read the works and do research on the authors, accessing plural and scientifically validated information, but also to deepen their knowledge of their inter-influences, to reflect on the importance of their legacy in stabilising and spreading the Portuguese language, and to debate their place in Portuguese culture throughout the ages and in our own time.
The first phase of the 2024-2025 Literary Olympics will take place online on 16 March. Competitors must register using the link available at braga.ucp.pt by midnight on 14 March.
The competition is a sequence of three themed surveys, which can be accessed and answered online, plus a qualifying round. The first three sessions will be held online, by filling in a survey, with limited time (40 minutes), at 5pm on three Sundays, 16 March (on Camilo Castelo Branco), 13 April (on Eça de Queirós), and 11 May (on Luís de Camões). The qualifying round, to be held in person at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Braga, will take place on Saturday 7 June.
To qualify as a contestant, students must fill in the Pre-Registration Form (below). They will receive a link to access the surveys on a date close to the surveys taking place. The link will only be accessible at the specified time and will be limited to 25 minutes. Contestants will receive notification of the results in their contact email before each successive stage of the competition takes place.
Failure to complete any of the first three surveys does not invalidate the possibility of competing, although it does limit the possibility of adding up the best scores.
The sum of the marks accumulated in the four sessions will determine the results, and the awarding of prizes not only to the best-placed Students, but also to their Teachers and Schools. The best-placed students in the competition will receive prizes (a Tablet for first place, Kindles for second and third), and guaranteed prizes for the Portuguese/Literature teachers and the school!
