Afonso Africano (epic poem) facts for kids

Afonso Africano is an exciting epic poem written by the Portuguese poet Vasco Mouzinho de Quevedo e Castelo Branco. It was first published a long time ago, in 1611. This poem is made up of twelve main parts, called cantos. It's written in a special poetry style called ottava rima, which in Portugal is known as oitava rima. This style uses eight lines for each stanza, and they rhyme in a specific way: abababcc. Another famous Portuguese poet, Luís de Camões, used the same style in his well-known poem, The Lusiads. Vasco Mouzinho de Quevedo's poem tells the story of a Portuguese king named Afonso, who was known as "The African." The poem describes his journey to Morocco, the battles he fought, and the sieges (when an army surrounds a city to take it over) of two cities, Arzilla and Tanger. The very first part of the poem is a classic example of how epic poems from the Renaissance period often began.

As armas e o varão ilustre canto

que de Africano tem insígnia e nome,

cuja alta fama será viva, enquanto

no dourado horizonte o Sol assome.

Donde começarei? Que o grande espanto

me tem suspenso, que princípio tome,

que tantas obras quantas me apresenta

vivo calor que mais e mais se aumenta.

What is an Epic Poem?

An epic poem is a long, narrative poem that tells the story of a heroic figure or a group of people. These poems often describe important events in a nation's history or mythology. They usually involve grand adventures, battles, and journeys. The main character, or hero, often has special qualities and faces many challenges.

Afonso Africano: A Story of a King

Afonso Africano is an epic poem that celebrates the brave actions of King Afonso V of Portugal. He was given the nickname "The African" because of his military campaigns in North Africa. The poem focuses on his expeditions and battles in that region.

King Afonso V's Adventures

The poem describes King Afonso V's journey to Morocco. It tells about the wars he fought there. Two important events in the poem are the sieges of the cities of Arzilla and Tanger. A siege happens when an army surrounds a city for a long time, trying to force the people inside to surrender. These events were very important in Portuguese history.

How is Afonso Africano Written?

The poem uses a special poetic form called ottava rima. This Italian term means "eighth rhyme." In Portugal, it's known as oitava rima.

Understanding Ottava Rima

• Each stanza (a group of lines in a poem) has eight lines.
• The lines follow a specific rhyme pattern: the first line rhymes with the third and fifth (A), the second with the fourth and sixth (B), and the last two lines rhyme with each other (CC). So, the pattern is ABABABCC.
• This style was popular during the Renaissance, a period of great art and learning in Europe.

A Famous Example: The Lusiads

Before Vasco Mouzinho de Quevedo, another very famous Portuguese poet, Luís de Camões, used ottava rima in his epic poem, The Lusiads. The Lusiads tells the story of Portugal's discoveries and adventures at sea. Using the same style connects Afonso Africano to this important tradition of Portuguese epic poetry.