Unit 7 Study Guide: The Latin American Boom and Modernist Narratives

El Boom

A literary movement in the 1960s and 1970s that brought Latin American writers to global prominence.

Narrative Experimentation

An approach that includes breaking linear time, stream of consciousness, and shifting points of view.

The Fantastic

A style that creates doubt and unease about reality.

Magical Realism

A style where the impossible is presented as mundane and normal.

Social Critique

Narratives that challenge social norms and address issues like poverty and corruption.

Jorge Luis Borges

An intellectual precursor to El Boom, known for his themes of time, infinity, and identity.

Metaliterature

Literature that self-reflexively examines the act of reading.

Parallelism

A technique linking two worlds through sensory details.

El Sur

A short story by Borges that explores themes of identity and reality.

La noche boca arriba

A story by Cortázar that contrasts modern reality with the ancient past.

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally; used in García Márquez's works.

Inverted Conquest

In Chac Mool, the indigenous god reclaims control, contrasting traditional narratives of conquest.

Dignity of the Poor

A theme in La siesta del martes highlighting the mother's stoicism amidst societal judgment.

Decadence

The decline of the middle class, represented through Filiberto in Chac Mool.

Circularity of Time

A theme suggesting that the past is dormant rather than dead.

The Nature of Reality

The exploration of how reality can be perceived differently in literature.

Cien años de soledad

A notable work by García Márquez often linked with Magical Realism.

Symmetry and Doubles

Themes in Borges’ work depicting dual identities.

Required Text

Essential literary works that students must read to understand the subject.

Genre

A category of literature defined by style, form, or content.

Moteca Indian

An indigenous character in La noche boca arriba symbolizing cultural sacrifice.

Esteban

The name of the drowned man in El ahogado más hermoso del mundo, symbolizing community transformation.

Literary Critique

Analyzing and evaluating literary works, often through established theories.

Huichol people

Times associated with traditional Mexican indigenous culture.

The Supernatural

An element in literature that breaks the boundaries of reality.

Filiberto

The protagonist in Chac Mool, whose life intertwines with the ancient past.