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Perceptions of a very old man with enormous wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Symbolism in a very old man with enormous wings
Perceptions of a very old man with enormous wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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Although it is a children's book, Ursula Le Guin's short story "Catwings Return" is a perfect example of the Fantastical genre. Published in 1989, "Catwings Return" has some elements similar to those found in Magical Realism, but the story mostly has elements of Fantasy in it. By examining the American story "Catwings Return," a reader will be able to see the similarities and differences between Magical Realism and Fantasy. In order to have some characteristics similar to those in Magical Realism, a text must contain both realistic elements and magical elements (Flores 112). In "Catwings Return," one of the realistic elements could be the setting. Rather than taking place in some other fantastical world or realm, the main part of "Catwings Return" takes place in a city near the little country town called Overhill. Since it has a "street crowded with whizzing cars," the city seems familiar to the reader (Le Guin 32). Another realistic element in the story is that the cats have the normal names of Thelma, Roger, Harriet, James, and Jane. Even though they have wings, the cats are given the realistic description of being tabby cats. Furthermore, the cats appear to do normal cat activities such as eat kibbles, purr, and play with one another and with the children who take care of them (Le Guin 3-5). Because of the "extensive use of detail," Le Guin's story exhibits at least one of the characteristics that Wendy B. Faris gives Magical Realism (Faris 169). In Le Guin's story, the most prominent magical element is the sets of wings on the cats. Because of the magical element of the wings, "Catwings Return" is similar to "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings," written by the Magical Realist Gabriel Garcia Marquez.... ... middle of paper ... ...the Fantastic. Works Cited Faris, Wendy B. "Scheherazade's Children: Magical Realism and Postmodern Fiction." Magical Realism. Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995. 163-186. Flores, Angel. "Magical Realism in Spanish American Fiction." Magical Realsim. Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995. 109-116. Leal, Luis. "Magical Realism in Spanish American Literature." Magical Realism. Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995. 119-123. Le Guin, Ursula K. "Catwings Return." New York: Orchard Books, 1989. Todorov, Tsvetan. The Fantastic: A Structural Approach to a Literary Form. Cleveland: The Press of Case Western Reserve University, 1973. 168-174.