Magical Realism Flashcards
What are the two perspectives of magical realism?
- rational view of reality
2. acceptance of supernatural as reality
What is magical realism?
a literary mode the fuses together real and fantastic elements in a book
Who created magical realism and what were his intentions?
first introduced by art critic Franz Roh, intended to pictorially depict the puzzles of reality
What are the different characteristics in magical realism?
Hybridity, Irony Regarding the Author’s Perspective, Authorial Reticence, Supernatural and Natural
Describe hybridity.
inharmonious ideas coexisting
Describe irony regarding the author’s perspective.
the author doesn’t truly believe in the magic yet highly respects it
Describe authorial reticence.
the author doesn’t tell you exactly why or what’s going on, vagueness surrounding accuracy and credibility of events
Describe supernatural and natural.
supernatural elements worked into normal world
What are some of the common themes of magical realism?
cyclical time, terror overwhelming rejuvenation, carnivalesque (festive celebrations), rebellion/revolution, political critique
Identify a well-known magical realist author and his expression of magical realism.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” angel, critique of the Catholic church, set in normal Spain
What is metafiction?
the author self-consciously notes the fact that the story being told may or may not be true
