Final answer:
One Hundred Years of Solitude exemplifies magical realism through its blend of fantastical elements and realistic details. The key influences on García Márquez's life that inspired the novel include his Colombian upbringing and his journalism career. The narrative shape of the novel is circular or cyclical, repeating events and themes throughout multiple generations of the Buendía family.
Step-by-step explanation:
The novel One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez is a prime example of the genre of magical realism. Throughout the story, García Márquez combines fantastical elements with realistic details, blurring the line between reality and imagination. This can be seen in the portrayal of characters' appreciation for burial gifts, the description of Lourdes' unstable legs, the use of words like 'flares,' 'faint,' 'vacant,' and 'shadow,' and the comparison of the setting sun to a flaming ribbon.
García Márquez's life experiences greatly influenced his writing, particularly in One Hundred Years of Solitude. Growing up in Colombia, a country with a rich history of storytelling and supernatural beliefs, Garcia Marquez was exposed to magical realist traditions. He also drew inspiration from his journalism career, which allowed him to witness and record the unpredictable and often chaotic political history of Latin America.
The narrative shape of One Hundred Years of Solitude can be described as a circular or cyclical pattern. The story moves through multiple generations of the Buendía family, repeating certain events and themes, ultimately coming back to the beginning. This shape is created through the repetition of names, conflicts, and motifs, as well as the use of magical elements that defy linear time and logic.