Magical realism is a less popular genre in literature. Most people find it to be controversial when discussing the exact definition of magical realism. While the papers that Amaryll Chanady, Luis Leal, Franz Roh, and Scott Simpkins wrote have been extremely helpful with explaining the history and theories of magical realism, it is difficult for one to decide which one to agree with. The most common definition that one can use to sum up the basics about magical realism, is blending in the ordinary with the supernatural to the point where it is hard to distinguish what really happened in the story and what did not.
An element of magical realism is metamorphosis, the act of originally being one thing and transforming into another. After the townspeople …show more content…
At the beginning of the film, Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton, the audience is told about a witch residing in the town of Ashton, Alabama. Although the townspeople are fearful of the witch’s powers, they treat the witch as if it were an everyday thing and even ask her to see their own death with her magical eyeball. The movie promulgates the idea of the magical being viewed as normal. Though the magical being taken in as the ordinary is not always as common as a witch or ghost, but can be more complex and odd. Such a statement can be supported by Helena Maria Viramontes’ short story, “The Moths.” After the narrator cleansed her dead grandmother, small and grey moths came from deep within the grandmother's soul and out through her mouth (16). The fact that the narrator of the story found this normal and seemed to expect it, discloses how the magical factor was not seen as anything more than …show more content…
If time is not linear that means one can see the future or past as if one was there experiencing it. An example of this is in, Julio Cortazar’s story, “The Night Face Up.” Throughout the entire story Cortazar writes the main character in two universes, one modern and one from the Aztec times. At the end of the story it is revealed that the Aztec world was the real one and the alternate universe was his dream of the modern world, or future (17).. The knowledge of the future through the characters dreams indicates the idea that time is not linear within the story. Going back to the novel, Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya the concept of time is not linear is demonstrated through Tony’s dreams. Among Tony’s dreams, he sees his own birth, his brothers making unholy decisions, and slight insights towards the future. The notion of Tony being able to see things beyond a normal persons predictions, gives the direct definition of time is not
An element of magical realism is metamorphosis, the act of originally being one thing and transforming into another. After the townspeople …show more content…
At the beginning of the film, Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton, the audience is told about a witch residing in the town of Ashton, Alabama. Although the townspeople are fearful of the witch’s powers, they treat the witch as if it were an everyday thing and even ask her to see their own death with her magical eyeball. The movie promulgates the idea of the magical being viewed as normal. Though the magical being taken in as the ordinary is not always as common as a witch or ghost, but can be more complex and odd. Such a statement can be supported by Helena Maria Viramontes’ short story, “The Moths.” After the narrator cleansed her dead grandmother, small and grey moths came from deep within the grandmother's soul and out through her mouth (16). The fact that the narrator of the story found this normal and seemed to expect it, discloses how the magical factor was not seen as anything more than …show more content…
If time is not linear that means one can see the future or past as if one was there experiencing it. An example of this is in, Julio Cortazar’s story, “The Night Face Up.” Throughout the entire story Cortazar writes the main character in two universes, one modern and one from the Aztec times. At the end of the story it is revealed that the Aztec world was the real one and the alternate universe was his dream of the modern world, or future (17).. The knowledge of the future through the characters dreams indicates the idea that time is not linear within the story. Going back to the novel, Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya the concept of time is not linear is demonstrated through Tony’s dreams. Among Tony’s dreams, he sees his own birth, his brothers making unholy decisions, and slight insights towards the future. The notion of Tony being able to see things beyond a normal persons predictions, gives the direct definition of time is not