Portuguese Romantic literature developed differently from Brazilian Romanticism. While Brazilian literature is famously divided into three distinct generations, each with clear characteristics and themes, Portuguese Romanticism follows a less structured classification system. This difference reflects the unique historical and cultural contexts of each nation's literary development.
Brazilian Romanticism is systematically organized into three generations. The first generation, from 1836 to 1860, focused on nationalism and Indianism, celebrating Brazil's indigenous heritage and natural beauty. The second generation, from 1860 to 1870, embraced ultra-romanticism with themes of melancholy, death, and intense emotions. The third generation, from 1870 to 1880, shifted toward social realism, addressing slavery and social issues. This clear periodization helps scholars analyze Brazilian literary development.