Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is “realism” in literature? What do you know—or what can you guess—about the terms “magical realism” and “fabulism”?

Teaching Suggestion: Even students who have not yet been exposed to “Realism” as a literary term should be able to make accurate guesses about the meaning of this term. Those who have encountered the term “magical realism” may need refinement of their understanding of the term, as it is used in popular culture to refer to a broader spectrum of literature than it refers to in an academic context. It is likely that few students will be familiar with the term “fabulism,” but you can ask them what its root word probably is and encourage them to make guesses based on the root word “fable.” Some students may know the term “fabulist” as a synonym for “liar,” and this, too, provides an intriguing springboard into the literary application of this word.

• This article from The Writer explores various definitions of “magical realism” and “fabulism.”
• In this essay, author Brenda Peynado explains fabulism’s appeal to her as an antidote to irony.