"Olímpia era tão alta que a sua cabeça desaparecia entre as nuvens": the degree expression in "A girafa que comia estrelas" by José Eduardo Agualusa

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to reflect on the notion of degree and the structures that allow its expression, highlighting its importance for reading comprehension and the development of (meta)linguistic and communicative skills of the student. So, first, there will be a brief review of the expression of degree and reading comprehension. In order to frame the theme and the contents at the teaching level, an analysis of the normative documents that guide the teaching of Portuguese in the Primary School and 2nd Cycles of Basic Education will be presented, showing how the expression of degree arises proposal for approach. In this sense, the different guiding documents for the teaching of Portuguese will be analyzed, by years of schooling, identifying the domains in which the content appears, recording its direct and indirect occurrences. This content is mainly proposed in the domain of grammar. Later, the work A girafa que comia estrelas, of José Eduardo Agualusa, will be explored, showing how the degree’s expression mechanisms help in the construction of the meanings of the text. Finally, there will be a brief reflection on the need for scientific and solid knowledge about the structure and functioning of language in order to access the meaning of the text and outline relevant and consequential pedagogical activities.