MAGIC REALISM IN MAORI LITERATURE

Abstract

Writers use various techniques to pass their ideas to the readers. There have been innumerable inventions in literature and other arts in modern and postmodern era. Magic Realism is a literary and visual art genre. It is a mind catching strategy of storytelling in which real elements are interwoven with fable, fantasy and magic. The term magical realism was first coined by the art critic Franz Roh in 1925 to describe German post-expressionist painting. Soon the concept was virtually forgotten in its birth place but got resurrected in Latin American literature in 1940 with multiple meanings. Then it declined in Latin American fiction too. Later it was picked up by many nationalities of world literature. Writers of different nations, social and political backgrounds have been creating their own distinction in producing wonderful works of literature with dominant true and mystic elements. Maori literature is no exception to this. This paper tries to highlight how magic realism is employed in Maori literature taking the novels of a leading New Zealand writer, Patricia Grace as samples.