Luís de Camões, Os Lusíadas [The Lusiads]

Download PDF Add to Bookshelf Report an Error
Os Lusíadas

, published in Lisbon in 1572, is an epic poem in ten cantos written in decasyllabic ottava rima with rhyme scheme ABABABCC by Luís de Camões (1524?-1580) and considered one of the foremost works of world literature. Prime sources for its study are Manuel Faria e Sousa’s commented edition (Madrid, 1639; rpt.

Lusíadas de Luís de Camões, Comentadas por Manuel de Faria e Sousa

, Introdução de Jorge de Sena, Lisboa, 1972) and the recent

Dicionário de Luís de Camões

compiled by Vítor Aguiar e Silva (Lisbon, 2011). The title, “Lusíadas”, is a neologism referring to the deeds of the Portuguese people. C.W. Bowra compares the epic with Virgil, Tasso, and Milton (

From Virgil to Milton

, London, 1945); in Portugal it is considered to be the greatest work in the national…

3166 words

Citation: Jackson, Kenneth David. "Os Lusíadas". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 February 2014 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=31967, accessed 19 March 2024.]

31967 Os Lusíadas 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

Save this article

If you need to create a new bookshelf to save this article in, please make sure that you are logged in, then go to your 'Account' here

Leave Feedback

The Literary Encyclopedia is a living community of scholars. We welcome comments which will help us improve.