Do you “Really” Believe in Magic? An Introduction to Magical Realism

Elements of Magical Realism Transformation of the common and the everyday into the awesome and the unreal.

Elements of Magical Realism Elements of dreams, fairy story, or mythology combine with the everyday.

Elements of Magical Realism The frame or surface of the work may be conventionally realistic. Have a strong narrative drive.

Magical Realism, Authors Gabriel Garcia Marquez – Columbia, 1928 - Jorge Luis Borges – Argentina, 1899-1986 Guenter Grass – Germany, 1927-

Gabriel Garcia Marquez He lived in Aracataca, Colombia, a banana town by the Caribbean. His grandparents were his most important relatives, and influenced him and his writing later on.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez His grandfather was a general, a hero and a great story teller. His grandmother was very superstitious. She filled the house with stories of ghosts and premonitions.

Elements of Magical Realism Transformation of the common and the everyday into the awesome and the unreal. Examples: An angel is found in a mud puddle of the courtyard. The angel’s wings have parasites.

Elements of Magical Realism Elements of dreams, fairy story, or mythology combine with the everyday. Examples: Some townspeople thought the angel should be named mayor of the world or at least a 5-star general. A man couldn’t sleep because the noise of the stars disturbed him.

Elements of Magical Realism The frame or surface of the work may be conventionally realistic. Example: Townspeople, village, flood, chicken coop.

Elements of Magical Realism Have a strong narrative drive. Example: Wings are not the most important difference between a hawk and an airplane. They are even less important in recognizing an angel.