Question

The first work of Magical Realism is considered to be:

• A. The Metamorphosis – Kafka
• B. Midnight’s Children – Rushdie
• C. Historical Universal de la Infamia – Borges
• D. The Castle – Kafka

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Historical Universal de la Infamia – Borges

Understanding Magical Realism and Its Origins

• Magical Realism is a literary genre in which magical or supernatural elements are presented in an otherwise realistic or mundane environment, often with no explanation for the magical occurrences. The characters typically accept the fantastic elements as normal.
• Historia universal de la infamia (A Universal History of Infamy), published in 1935 by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, is widely considered one of the foundational and earliest significant works exhibiting characteristics of Magical Realism in literature.
• While the term "Magical Realism" (Magischer Realismus) was first coined by German art critic Franz Roh in 1925 to describe a post-expressionist style of painting, its application to literature, particularly Latin American literature, gained prominence later.
• Borges' work is notable for blending factual historical accounts with fictional embellishments, myth, philosophy, and dreamlike logic, thereby blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. This narrative style became a hallmark of the genre.

• Key Characteristics of Magical Realism often seen in early works like Borges':

  • Integration of the Fantastic: Magical elements are presented as commonplace.
  • Realistic Setting: The story takes place in a recognizable, ordinary world.
  • Unexplained Magic: The supernatural is not questioned or explained by the characters or narrator.
  • Labyrinthine Structures: Often features complex narratives, non-linear timelines, and interweaving stories.
  • Blending Genres: Mixes elements of myth, fable, history, and fiction.
• Borges' influence on the Latin American Literary Boom of the 1960s and 70s was immense. Many authors of the Boom, such as Gabriel García Márquez, Julio Cortázar, and Carlos Fuentes, were deeply inspired by his innovative narrative techniques and the way he integrated the fantastic into their works.
• While Borges is a pioneer, Alejo Carpentier, a Cuban author, also developed a related concept called "lo real maravilloso" (the marvelous real) in 1949, arguing that Latin America's unique history and culture made the marvelous inherent to its reality, distinguishing it somewhat from the European concept of magical realism.
• For competitive exams, remember Borges as a key figure in the early development of literary Magical Realism, particularly in Latin America, and his influence on subsequent generations of writers.