A Forma e a Função do Gênero Literário em Santo Agostinho, Especialmente do Gênero Homilético nos “Iohannis Evangelium Tractatus”

Abstract

The different literary genres used by Agostinho in his works are analyzed in this article, verifying the criterion that the form of the piece of writing obeys to a function given by the content and by the objective of the piece of writing. Between the varieties of literary genres analyzed, the article gives special attention to the homiletic genre of his Sermons, specially those in “Tractatus on the Gospel of John”, to show that they obey to the practical purpose of edification of the faithful. Finally the “Tractatus I” is analyzed to show that the preacher has the difficult task of provoking in the listener the reverse route of the Word: it proceeds from the heart of God (the Verb), create and put in order all the Creation, riches the man’s heart and finally expresses itself in language.