LAC - Module Overview

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Introduction

Upon European arrival to the New World, regions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean have seen the face of resistance and rebellion in defending their territories in attempts to keep or gain independence. The battle for independence serves as a clear theme throughout the literature of the area. Whereas Latin American writing invokes the use of magical realism quite often, Caribbean literature reveals a strong dialect that captures the voice of the people. Latin American and Caribbean literature takes readers on a journey to explore the struggle of survival in a time period where war remained rampant and independence remained a dream.

 

 

Essential Questions

  1. What are common themes appearing in Latin American and Caribbean literature?
  2. What techniques do Latin American and Caribbean writers include in their literature?
  3. How have the historical events of Latin America and the Caribbean shaped the literature?
  4. Who are some of the main people who led the Latin America and Caribbean literature movement?
  5. What areas do Latin America and the Caribbean refer to?
  6. How do people find the strength to survive in times of war and oppression?

Key Terms

Dialect: a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group

Magical Realism: genre where magic elements are a natural part in an otherwise mundane, realistic environment

Oral Tradition: stories passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth

Surrealism: movement in art and literature that tries to reveal the thoughts of the unconscious mind and characterized by an irrational and fantastic arrangement of material

Chicana/Chicano: term typically meaning Mexican American

Myth: a traditional story, esp. one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events

Memoir: a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events

Epic: A long narrative poem

Cultural Context: Understanding the behaviors, beliefs, and characteristics of a particular social, ethnic, or age group that may be relevant to understanding the meaning of the story.

Historical Context: Understanding the political and social events of a time period that may be relevant to understanding the meaning of the story.

Nonfiction: A genre of literature that is true and based on real things, people, events, and places.

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