Question

Which rewrite of the underlined portion of the passage most clearly uses a magical realist tone? I was in the park walking my dog, just another normal day when all of a sudden Sam stood up on his hind legs and said 'I want to thank you for taking good care of me.' I just about lost my mind, a talking dog.

a) It was a regular day when Sam, my dog, suddenly spoke to me in the park.
b) I was casually strolling with Sam when he unexpectedly expressed gratitude for my care.
c) Sam's sudden conversation with me in the park left me bewildered.
d) I never anticipated Sam, my dog, would ever speak, especially in the park.

Answer 1

Option (b) 'I was casually strolling with Sam when he unexpectedly expressed gratitude for my care' most clearly uses a magical realist tone by presenting the extraordinary event in an ordinary context.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked which rewrite of the underlined portion of a passage most clearly uses a magical realist tone. Magical realism involves incorporating magical elements into a realistic setting in such a way that it feels natural and believable within the narrative's context. Option (b) 'I was casually strolling with Sam when he unexpectedly expressed gratitude for my care' achieves this by presenting the extraordinary event of a dog speaking as if it occurred during an ordinary walk in the park, hence reflecting the seamless blend of the magical with the mundane characteristic of magical realism.