Saramago for Beginners: Reflections on Teaching “Coisas” as an Introduction to Saramaguian Dystopia, Allegory, and Political Critique

: This essay ofers a rationale and methodology for introducing students to the fction of José Saramago through a lesser-known text: his short story “Coisas,” from the collection Objecto quase (1978), which was taught to frst-year undergraduate students at the University of Nottingham in 2019 and 2020. The article begins by justifying the inclusion of Saramago’s work—and, specifcally, the short story in question—on an undergraduate Lusophone studies syllabus. It is argued that “Coisas” concisely encapsulates Saramago’s key literary themes in approachable and easily digestible prose, while containing both contextually specifc and universally relevant allusions within a form and genre likely to appeal to young adults. Second, the essay outlines and critically refects upon the lesson plans and pedagogical strategies used to teach this narrative in previous years, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the article suggests some further methods for teaching “Coisas” to Lusophone studies undergraduates and contemplates other pedagogical contexts in which Saramago’s short story might be deployed successfully in the future.