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Exploring Magical Realism in Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me Ultima

Discover the essence of Magical Realism in Rudolfo Anaya's masterpiece, Bless Me Ultima, as we delve into the fusion of magic and reality, the portrayal of diverse cultures, and the profound themes of cultural identity and spiritual beliefs. Explore the narrative where the ordinary becomes miraculous, and the miraculous feels ordinary, creating a captivating literary journey of self-discovery and cultural heritage.

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Exploring Magical Realism in Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me Ultima

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  1. Magical Realism Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me Ultima

  2. Magical Realism • Literary genre & movement • Franz Roh (1925) • German art critic: new way to look at paintings, new techniques • AlejoCarpentier (1949) • Coined term “marvelous reality” to describe a new type of fiction produced by new Latin American writers

  3. Magical Realism • “The ordinary as miraculous and the miraculous as ordinary.” • Magical elements appear in an otherwise realistic setting without any disruption to the logic of the story • Magic is a normal aspect of this “normal” universe

  4. Magical Realism • Characters consider magic as a usual possibility of their world. Magic might be rare, but it is still a serious topic in these fictions as chemistry or physics is in our world • Combination of physical reality & psychological reality

  5. Different from Fantasy • Remains grounded in the real world • Unlike fiction which occurs in a new universe: Narnia or Hogwarts • No need to explain what’s going on – the laws, the people – the only difference is magic is possible • Not so much a belief, but a “lack of disbelief” • Power lies not in answers, but in questions

  6. Function of Magical Realism • Response to colonialism (post-colonialism) • Europe imposed religion, laws, language, customs, logic • Central and South American writers began subverting “scientific” and :logical” literature by allowing minor voices to compete with major voices • Folklore, myths, Native American tales, urban legends

  7. Function of Magical Realism • A forum in which pagan gods “cleansed” by European conquerors can be expressed • Show Latin Americas unity and its differences from Spain or Portugal • Often done in conjunction with political or economic nationalism

  8. Common Literary Conventions • Juxtaposes opposite elements: • Dreaming/waking • Life/death • Civilized/wild • Hyperbole • Exaggeration until it becomes “magical” • Childlike look at the familiar • “charm of the object” • Reimagining the mundane • Engages reader into text • Mirror • Forces questioning

  9. Latin America • Landscape • Vast, mysterious terrain • Snow capped mountains to volcanoes & Amazon waterfalls • Native influence • Blend of old, mystical culture with colonization & Christianity

  10. Famous Magical Realism Authors • Gabriel G. Marquez • One Hundred Years of Solitude • Love in the Time of Cholera • Laura Esquivel • Like Water for Chocolate • Isabel Allende • House of the Spirits

  11. Rudolfo Anaya October 30, 1937 - • Born in Pastura, Mexico • Rural village • Moved to Albuquerque, NM • High School & College • Currently a college professor at University of New Mexico • Father of Chicano literature

  12. Bless Me Ultima • Bildungsroman • German for “novel of self-cultivation” • Coming-of-age • Many similarities between Anaya & Antonio Marez • Six yrs. old @ start of novel • Father: vaquero culture; richly connected to land • Mother: Catholic, modern, city dweller • Struggle between two worlds: • Rich, mystical, pagan family ties & traditional Roman Catholicism • Ultima • Curandera • Healer: akin to shaman

  13. References • http://www.powershow.com/view/2435cf-YWM3N/Magical_Realism_powerpoint_ppt_presentationMany similarities between Anaya & Antonio Marez • Pleasenton.k12.ca.us

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