Latin American Narrative: Transformation and Magical Realism

Latin American Narrative in the Second Half of the 20th Century

Latin American narrative in the second half of the 20th century is not rooted in the tradition of the classical Spanish novel, realistic, or prior to the Civil War. Instead, it shows a great sensitivity to the transformation called the *metamorphosis of the novel*, which occurred at the hands of great European and American authors of the early 20th century, such as Joyce, Kafka, Proust, Musil, and Faulkner.

Experimental Novel and Magical Realism

Therefore, it can be described as an *experimental novel*, equivalent to what the Anglo world calls "modern", as it shows a particular sensitivity to the revolution of the aforementioned viewpoint. But it also expresses a world of very different dimensions from those of Europe, for which the boundaries of reality differ from the usual for us: this is called "magical realism".

Representative Authors by Country

Finally, we should cite some representative authors from different countries:

• Argentina: Borges, Cortázar, or Sábato
• Peru: Vargas Llosa
• Mexico: Rulfo or Fuentes
• Colombia: García Márquez
• Paraguay: Roa Bastos

It is important to note that although we speak of the "Hispanic" novel as homogeneous, we are dealing with an entire continent (including Mexico, which is in North America), and the differences between traditions and styles are very broad.

Main Symbolic Elements in Lorca's *Gypsy Ballads*

The main symbolic elements that appear recurrently in Federico García Lorca's Gypsy Ballads can be explained by reference to a specific poem to demonstrate knowledge of the work. These are:

• The Moon
• The Gypsy
• Women
• Night
• Air
• Colors
• Animals
• Water

Explanations of the Symbols

• The Moon

  The moon is a symbolic element present in almost all the poems, starting with the first, where it already appears twice in the title. Lorca refers to the moon in its various phases, with varied and sometimes daring metaphors ("agonizing silver, garlic, waning moon...").

• The Gypsy

  Regarding the Gypsy, it would be beneficial to show some understanding of the vision that Lorca wanted to convey of this world. In any case, their presence ranges from poems in which the protagonist is presented as an authentic Gypsy (Antoñito el Camborio) to those that offer a "Gypsy vision" of the world, like the last ballad, in which the "Gypsy virgin" mourns the disgrace of Thamar.

• Women

  Female presences are manifold. Perhaps the most important is Soledad Montoya, but Thamar, Preciosa, and the unfaithful wife must be added. In general, they are figures with erotic associations, outside the family or matrimonial law, or are associated with an impossible quest. Soledad Montoya is a great symbol of frustration, of the impossibility of living, a big Lorcan theme.

• Night and Air

  Comments can be made about the association of night with danger (*Brawl*), and the presence of air at different times (the most significant being the masculine wind that pursues Preciosa with lewd intentions).

• Colors

  Colors are symbolic in Lorca's work. Without a doubt, the most representative are green, accompanying the *Sleepwalking Ballad* to create an atmosphere of that color, and black, very present in many but especially important in the *Ballad of the Black Sorrow*.

• Animals

  Among the animals, of course, we should note the horse.

• Water

  Regarding water, its importance can be highlighted when it appears as the sea, as opposed to standing water.

Of course, there are other recurring symbols that can also be named, such as metals, exact numbers, bullfighting symbols, and so on.