Nicolau Tolentino de Almeida facts for kids

Nicolau Tolentino de Almeida (born September 10, 1740 – died June 23, 1811) was a famous Portuguese poet from Lisbon. He is known as the best satirical poet of the 18th century in Portugal. Satirical poetry uses humor to criticize people or society.

When he was 20, Tolentino studied law at the University of Coimbra for three years. He then stopped studying law to teach rhetoric. Rhetoric is the art of speaking or writing well. In 1776, he moved to Lisbon for a job. A year later, he became a professor of rhetoric. His interests soon changed again, from teaching to working in public office. He wrote poems against the Marquis of Pombal, who was a very powerful minister. Because of this, he gained the support of the Marquis's successor. He was given a special job in the royal government that paid him without much work. In 1790, he was honored with the title of knight of the royal family.

Literary Work

Tolentino de Almeida wrote many different types of poems. These included sonnets, odes, and satires. In 1801, he gathered his poems into one book. It was called Obras poéticas (Poetic Works). The government published this book. After he passed away, more complete collections of his works were published. These included poems that people had not seen before.

What is Satire?

Tolentino was especially known for his satire. This made him different from other poets of his time. He did not join any of the popular literary groups. Instead, he was one of the "Dissidents," meaning he did his own thing.

His satire made fun of many things. He criticized old traditions and fake appearances. He also made fun of silly social groups and strange behaviors. He used humor that was both ironic and amusing. Tolentino even included himself in his jokes. He sometimes showed himself as living in poverty. He would jokingly call himself a character in the "human comedy" that he was making fun of.

Writing Style

Tolentino's writing style was simple and clear. It was different from the grand and complex style of other poets of his time. His poems often sounded like everyday talk. This helped him to point out common problems and daily events in a funny way.

His Legacy

Many people believe Tolentino was one of the most important writers of the 18th century in Portugal. He is also seen as one of the greatest national satirists.

Tolentino was one of the first writers to mention "Brazilian modinha" in his work in 1779. Modinha was a type of popular song. He likely meant the music of Domingos Caldas Barbosa. Also, in one of his plays from 1786, called A rabugem das velhas (The Bad-Tempered Old Women), a character talks about "this new modinha that's been invented now." This makes her grandmother very angry, as she prefers the old ways.

See also

In Spanish: Nicolau Tolentino de Almeida para niños