Realism is a 19^th century genre that emerged from France through artistic representations. Realism depicts a style in which writers use exhaustive realistic and factual accounts of events. The style focuses on representing actions and also social circumstances as they are without any fantasy. In this style of literature, the work emphasizes the use of truthfulness and actuality while restoring life in literature. In the United States, the term appeared into literature after the repercussions of the Civil War as writers offered accurate demonstration and exploration of the events (Fer 35).

The Guest by Albert Camus shows realism that represents actual events. The story is set in Algeria that is under the French rule and authority. Daru is a Frenchman born in Algeria and works as a schoolmaster in the plateau or upland areas of the country. His old acquaintance Balducci who works for the French government brings him an Arab prisoner. Balducci gives orders to Daru to take the Arab prisoner to the police station nearby while he gets backs to his duties. Daru as a French citizen is expected to cooperate with the government, but as an Algerian-born resident he feels connection to the natives, he offers the Arab prisoner a chance to escape and avoid prison life (Yehoshua 41).

The Guest depicts the actual story that occurred in Algeria when it was colonized by France. The Algerians as the Arabs in the story started a revolution to fight for freedom from the French rule. Camus shows the conflict and tension that existed between the Algerian natives and the French authorities. The narrative also shows the harsh conditions of war and the ruin it can bring to a country. This includes the scarcity of food, shelter, educational material and above all hatred between social groups. Camus’ story illustrates how the Algerian War caused ruin and hardship for many people as tension rose between the Arabs and the French Algerians (Yehoshua 41).

Cranes by Hwang Sun-won illustrates an example of realism through the tangles of friendships. The story focuses on Tok-chae and Song-sam who were childhood friends in the past. However, Tok-chae has been taken prisoner and Song-sam is tasked with the duty of sending him to prison. Through their conversation, the story shows their plight in a war torn country. Cranes signifies realism because Sun-won recounts the actual events of the Korean War. The Korean civil war caused disintegration of families and deteriorating of friendships like Tok-Chae and Song-sam. In this way, the author shows the tragedies of war where many people such as Song-sam had to leave their children behind to hide. Tok-Chae on the other hand chose to fight in the civil war to protect his business and family. In essence, the story features realism because even in times of war people make choices that affect others. The Korean civil war caused pain and bitterness for many people as they were in conflict with fellow brothers and sisters. The story concludes with forgiveness between Tok-Chae and Song-sam and this shows that friendship or families overcome ideological differences even in the real world (Lee 91).

Surrealism

Surrealism is a style that emerged in the 20^th century during the period of the World War I. The initial citing of this style occurred in Paris in the 1920s through the Dada movement that produced work that defied reason. In essence, surrealism is an expression of literature based on manifestation of imagination as it appears in dreams. The system focuses on expressions that are free of the conscious regulator of reason and does not need conviction. Surrealist creators prefer the associations and insinuations of words, but not their literal meaning. In this style artists can express their dreams and the sub-consciousness without regard to reason or moral obligation (Fer 67).

The metamorphosis by Franz Kafka shows an example of surrealism in its context. The story of metamorphosis narrates the life of Gregor Samsa who woke up one morning to discover he had changed formed. Gregor a salesman by profession found out that his body had changed into a vermin or a giant insect. Surrealism appears in the story because the plot goes beyond reality and takes an illogical state. The plot takes a dream-like path as Gregor wakes up from a restless night to realize that his entire body has changed. The “reality” and dreamlike or disregard of logic appears in the plot as a normal person turns into a giant insect. Gregor takes on insect like behaviors that defy reason since he was human, but suddenly he acts like an insect. The idea of a person transforming into a repulsive giant bug is bizarre and unworldly. The story appears like a dream and something that defies reason for the normal human expectations (Kafka).

Kafka turns the story into an interesting read as Gregor tries to manoeuvre his new state and environment. However, the whole scenario of transformation turns out illogical, absurd and even menacingly strange for the reader. Surrealism also means the combining things in the same frame, through features that in the usual circumstances would not be found together and this produces the illogical effects. For instance, Gregor transforms into a giant bug and continues to live in the usual setting of an apartment. The element of illogical and out of this world experience in a weird environment surrounds the plot (Kafka).

Magical Realism

Magical realism emerged in 20^th century as introduced by Franz Roh a German critic who recognized it as a category of art. The terms became popular in the 1940s and 1950s as artists and writers such as Roh who saw it as description of uncanny realism. The concept of magical realism features two conflicting viewpoints, one that is founded on the essence of reality and the other on the recognition of the supernatural part. In this way, magical realism varies from pure fantasy because it involves plots that revolve in the normal, modern world with reliable portrayals of the human society. The idea in this genre of literature is the acceptance of magical features as part of the natural in an ordinary real society. It appreciates the puzzle of the unity of the opposites such as challenging the opposites in death and life. In reality, it is the combination of the real and the fantasy world (Bowers 21).

The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World by Gabriel Garcia Marquez represents an example of magical realism. The story is set in a small coastal community with only a few people inhabiting the area. The state of the village changes when a dead body washes ashore and the villagers do not recognize him. Magical realism appears immediately as the villagers indicate that the dead body is unimaginably handsome, taller and stronger than any individual than they have ever encountered. However, even with the man appearing “magical” and out of this world, the villagers still carry him home to prepare for his burial. In essence, this bores the element of a supernatural being treated like a normal person by the villagers. The essence of a body that is unique and mystic than they have ever witnessed, that catches the attention of the people so that they treat him as normal in their community brings out magical realism. This means a fantasy world is existing in the real world in a natural way (Kirszner and Mandell 458).

Additionally, they give the corpse a name “Esteban” giving him a special place in their lives. As Esteban the corpse acts as a divine being that offers salvation for the villagers. The characteristics of the corpse seem unique and different from anything they have ever seen, but they still accept him effortlessly. The villagers depict great faith as they instantly accept the corpse instead of questioning its origin or even fear for their lives, but instead they embrace him and treat him as special (Kirszner and Mandell 458).

The style of surrealism and magical realism exhibit some common characteristics that make them identifiable. The two genres of literature emerged in the 20th century when the art of writing began to be developed and categorized earnestly. The two styles exhume elements of reality and fantasy in the normal world. In fact, despite the fact that surrealism features things that defy reason, magical realism also appears unreal and unbeveled in the natural world. In this way, surrealism and magical realism connect the world of supernatural and the natural world in a unique way (Bowers).

Works Cited

Bowers, Maggie. Magic(al) Realism. London, UK: Routledge, 2013. Print.

Fer, Briony. Realism, Rationalism, Surrealism: Art Between the Wars. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 1993. Print.

Kafka, Franz. The metamorphosis. New York: CSF Publishing, 2011. Print.

Kirszner, Laurie and Mandell, Stephen. Fiction: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Miami, Florida: Paulinas, 1993. Print.

Lee, Peter. Modern Korean Literature: An Anthology. Kolowalu Street, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1990. Print.

Yehoshua, Abraham. The Terrible Power of a Minor Guilt: Literary Essays. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 2000. Print.

CLICK BUTTON TO ORDER NOW