|
Magical
Realism is a term with many
definitions. Here's mine:
Magical Realism is
literature that explores the encounter of different cultures, world views, and
perceptions of reality. What is absolutely ordinary and "real"
to one culture, is "magical" to the other culture. From a
"Western" viewpoint, the other culture's reality is often described as
superstition, witchcraft or nonsense; from another culture's viewpoint (Native
American, African American, Eastern, African, etc.) western logic and science
are viewed as "magic" or disconnected from the spiritual world.
The intersect of these different world views is
Magical
Realism.
For other definitions, go to
Magical
Realism Links
Angela Carter, Nights at the
Circus
Louise Erdrich, The Painted Drum
Gabriel Garcia-Marquez, Of Love and Other Demons
Salman Rushdie, The Moor's Last Sigh
Choose one of the novels above. Once you have chosen a novel, you will
belong to a group working on the novel. Each member of the group must choose a different
focus on the novel to present to the class (see below). You must communicate
and collaborate with your group and the rest of the class in researching your author and
his/her novel. Your timely
participation in the ANGEL
discussion as outlined on the Syllabus will constitute a part of the grade for
this essay.
Write a
1000 word essay (see Guidelines for Research Essays)
on your focus and present your findings and conclusions to the class. You must cite at
least three different scholarly secondary sources in your essay (scholarly
articles are published in academic journals or in critical studies).
Documentation must, of course,
follow MLA
Guidelines.
Avoid using plot summary to support your assertions -- analyze don't summarize!
Be prepared to answer questions.
FOCUS ONE: Cultural
Encounters
Discuss the conflicting cultural views that come
into contact with each other in the novel. How do these views conflict with each
other? What kinds of accommodations are made to encompass the conflicts in
a larger world view?
FOCUS
TWO: Social
Criticism
Discuss the picture of society that author presents in the book. Is s/he
critical of societal mores and standards? If so, what does s/he criticize and
how?
FOCUS THREE:
Psychoanalytical Criticism
Analyze and discuss the motives and actions of the protagonist and major
characters in the novel. How do the protagonist's unconscious drives and needs
conflict with his/her ideals and conscious desires?
FOCUS FOUR:
Formal Criticism
Identify and elaborate upon a formal aspect of the
novel that contributes to the "magical realism" quality of the
novel. Such an aspect could be the narrative point of view, the reader's
role in the fiction, the combination of genres and their conventions, the
identification and purpose of allusions, the use of metaphor and/or allegory,
etc.
FOCUS FIVE:
Archetypal Criticism
Discuss how the author uses archetypal images from mythology or folklore in the novel. What characters are related to archetypal images?
What archetypal themes are used in the novel? Does the author
"subvert" the archetypal expectations in any way?
Some Useful
Websites on Critical Approaches:
Critical Approaches to Literature: A Brief Overview from Purdue University
Introduction to Modern Literary Theory by Dr. Kristi Siegel
Links
to Critical Approaches on Literature
Literary
Criticism: An Overview of Approaches prepared by Skylar Hamilton Burris
|
