LAC - Latin American and Caribbean Literature Foundations Lesson

Many definitions of Latin America appear in various textbooks. Latin America often refers to areas where Spanish or Portuguese languages prevail, but

in America, the broad term refers to the areas south of the United States, such as Mexico, Central and South America, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Therefore, groups study Latin American and Caribbean literature together seeing as Belize, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Antigua

and Barbuda, St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the Bahamas; French-speaking Haiti and Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana; and Dutch-speaking Curaçao, Aruba, St. Maarten, and Suriname all fall into the category of Latin American and Caribbean literature. 

Latin America can be subdivided into four regions: North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

See the image to the right to learn more about the various Latin American territories.

Overview of Latin American History

The earliest known settlement was in Southern Chile, and from there, the indigenous groups spread elsewhere across what people now consider as Latin America. The Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans are three main Latin American groups, or civilizations that prevailed for many years. The Aztecs were the greatest empire until the Spanish invasion.

After the voyages of Christopher Columbus, the civilizations lost power to the Europeans. Spain, Portugal, and France split the areas of Latin America, and European culture, customs, and religion pervaded the area. Along with the digression of indigenous culture, diseases from the Europeans wiped out many indigenous people, and by the end of 1800-1900s, mestizos, or people of mixed ancestry, filled the areas.

Unrest bubbled up in the 1800s as people grew tired of the politics and rule of the Spanish authorities. A series of battles broke out across Latin America, and by 1825, all of Latin America (aside from Cuba and Puerto Rico) gained independence from Spain. The fight for independence was a difficult time for Latin America, and the literature of Latin America provides insight into how the people remained true to their roots and culture through difficulties.

Latin American Literature

Latin American literature provides insight into the rich culture and history of the region. Pre-Colonial literature was mainly oral literature, or stories passed down by word of mouth and occasionally recorded after the arrival of the Europeans. Therefore, myths and dialect play a large role in Latin American and Caribbean literature. Myths are traditional stories concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events; dialect is a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group.

Then, Colonial Literature reveals the accounts of the experiences with the battles and difficulties, as well as the deep religious and philosophical ideas of the people during this time period.

After gaining independence, more national pride and focus on the indigenous appeared through various authors in order to reveal the identity and struggle of Latin American individuals.

With contemporary Latin American literature, magical realism surfaced. Magical Realism is a genre where magic elements are a natural part in an otherwise mundane, realistic environment. Often, this promoted surrealism in literature and art. Surrealism is the 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.

Sub-Regions Self-Assessment

Magical Realism

Magical Realism has many characteristics that distinguish this type of literature from other kinds of literature. In magical realism, readers might notice these characteristics:

• Fantastic elements
• Characters who accept the magical elements instead of rejecting them
• Imagery
• Symbolism
• Cause and Effect
• Legend or Folklore
• Distortion of Time
• Shifts in Viewpoint
• Open-Ended Conclusion 

Therefore, when reading magical realism, elements that are not typical of normal society might appear. For example, characters might be abnormally tall or beautiful, time might fast-forward or reverse, and there might not be a clear end to the story. Often, people view magical realism as a resistance towards European ideas and culture.

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