THE GEOGRAPHY OF EMOTIONS IN THE POEM SONG OF EXILE BY GONÇALVES DIAS

Abstract

Discussions in the field of Cultural Geography, supported by literary texts, have enabled subjective approaches that contribute to the understanding of feelings and emotions. This article takes as its object of study the poem Canção do Exílio (Song of Exile), written by the Brazilian poet from Maranhão, Gonçalves Dias, and seeks to interpret the experiences expressed therein through the lens of the so-called Geography of Emotions, drawing on the geographical concepts of landscape and place. The research follows a qualitative approach and is based on readings of literary works and a bibliographic survey of books, theses, dissertations, articles, and other publications on the subject. The theoretical method adopted is phenomenology, grounded in Cultural Geography and Humanistic Geography. The analyses, informed by both the poem and the theoretical framework, reveal Gonçalves Dias’s sensitivity and creativity in portraying his love for Brazil through a musical and moving language, which makes this poem a milestone in Brazilian literature and still a source of inspiration today.