Question

Magical Realism is a fictional genre that was created in the Americas. In Unit 2, we read two examples of Magical Realism in “The Youngest Doll” and “The Third Bank of the River”. In at least two complete paragraphs (each paragraph being a minimum of 5 sentences), compare and contrast these two texts together. What do they have in common? What is unique about each text? In your answer, be sure to explain what the symbolic meaning is in each author’s use of fantasy elements. Also, use direct quotes, correctly cited, from each story to support your response.

Answer 1

Every magical realism novel is different, but there are certain things they all include, such as:

1. Realistic setting. All magical realism novels take place in a setting in this world that’s familiar to the reader.

2. Magical elements. From talking objects to dead characters to telepathy, every magical realism story has fantastical elements that do not occur in our world. However, they’re presented as normal within the novel.

3. Limited information. Magical realism authors deliberately leave the magic in their stories unexplained in order to normalize it as much as possible and reinforce that it is part of everyday life.

4. Critique. Authors often use magical realism to offer an implicit critique of society, most notably politics and the elite. The genre grew in popularity in parts of the world like Latin America that were economically oppressed and exploited by Western countries. Magic realist writers used the genre to express their distaste and critique American Imperialism.

5. Unique plot structure. Magical realism does not follow a typical narrative arc with a clear beginning, middle, and end like other literary genres. This makes for a more intense reading experience, as the reader does not know when the plot will advance or when the conflict will take place.