A lesson on magical realism has young historians research how Garcia Marquez weaves historical events and his own experiences into One Hundred Years of Solitude. Using historical records and information found in a biography of Garcia Marquez, groups identify six pieces of information that remind them of events or characters in the novel and share their findings with the class. Individuals then use what they learn from the presentations to craft a reflection that addresses one of the essential questions of the unit.

Concepts

magical realism, realism, literary analysis, concrete details, details, sensory details, tone

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Instructional Ideas

• Assign Chapter 1 of "Country Study of Colombia" and the biographical information on Garcia Marquez as out-of-class reading prior to teaching the lesson

Classroom Considerations

• Second in a three-lesson unit
• Requires copies of the "Historical Events" worksheet
• Presumes pupils have completed a reading of the novel

Pros

• The plan is richly detailed and carefully scaffolded

Cons

• None

Common Core

CCRA.R.1 CCRA.R.2 CCRA.R.3 CCRA.R.4 CCRA.R.5 CCRA.R.6