Question

which sentence from cristina garcias dreaming in cuban is an example of magic realism?

abuela celia and i write to each other sometimes, but mostly i hear her speaking to me at night just before i fall asleep.
at night, especially in the summer when the sound carries, i hear the low whistles of the ships as they leave new york harbor.
lourdes imagines these pieces, broken and bruised in unspeakable places, on piers and in alleyways, drifting down the river to the sea.
one girl left with a broken leg after slipping on a bar of soap pilar dropped while the nanny was bathing her in the sink.

Explanation:

Define magic realism

Using the Magic Realism knowledge point
Magic realism is a literary genre where fantastical, supernatural, or magical elements are presented as a natural, matter-of-fact part of an otherwise realistic, everyday environment.

Analyze the options

Using the Cuban-American Literature and Magic Realism knowledge points

• Option 1: "Abuela Celia and I write to each other sometimes, but mostly I hear her speaking to me at night just before I fall asleep." This sentence depicts a supernatural connection (telepathic communication across vast distances) treated as a normal, everyday occurrence ("mostly I hear her speaking to me"). This is a classic hallmark of magic realism.
• Option 2: "At night, especially in the summer when the sound carries, I hear the low whistles of the ships as they leave New York harbor." This is a purely realistic sensory description of hearing ships.
• Option 3: "Lourdes imagines these pieces, broken and bruised in unspeakable places, on piers and in alleyways, drifting down the river to the sea." This describes a character's internal imagination, which is a realistic psychological process.
• Option 4: "One girl left with a broken leg after slipping on a bar of soap Pilar dropped while the nanny was bathing her in the sink." This describes a mundane, realistic accident.

Select the correct sentence

Using the Magic Realism knowledge point
The first option is the only sentence that blends a supernatural phenomenon (telepathic hearing of a distant grandmother) with realistic daily life, making it the correct example of magic realism.

Answer:

• (A) Abuela Celia and I write to each other sometimes, but mostly I hear her speaking to me at night just before I fall asleep. (Correct answer)
• (B) At night, especially in the summer when the sound carries, I hear the low whistles of the ships as they leave New York harbor.
• (C) Lourdes imagines these pieces, broken and bruised in unspeakable places, on piers and in alleyways, drifting down the river to the sea.
• (D) One girl left with a broken leg after slipping on a bar of soap Pilar dropped while the nanny was bathing her in the sink.