Narrative Worlds in Literature: A Comprehensive Overview
Narrative Worlds in Literature
1. Types of Narrative Worlds Based on Representation
1.1. The Everyday World
These stories depict reality as closely as possible, characterized by objective and detailed descriptions of objects, landscapes, events, and character actions. The represented world focuses on regional and indigenous aspects, often portraying a “box of habits.” In Chile, these stories were abundant from the mid-nineteenth century until the last third of the twentieth century, closely linked to realism. Many stories include visions of rural, urban, maritime, mining, and other marginal settings. Representative authors include Baldomero Lillo (Subterra and Subsole), Mariano Latorre (Birthplace of Condors), Luis Durand (Frontera), and Marta Brunet (Adentro Mountain).
1.2. The Dream World
Dreamlike narratives offer a new way of seeing and representing reality. They focus on the individual and their existential problems—loneliness, anxiety, isolation—to better understand the truth of their existence, blurring the lines between reality and unreality. This approach abandons the ordered world of cause and effect for a confused, unstable, contradictory, and ever-changing world governed by the interior, dreams, instincts, and intuition. María Luisa Bombal exemplifies this kind of world in her writing, where the distinction between reality and dream becomes ambiguous.
1.3. The Mythical World
Myths are anonymous oral histories from a society’s origins, offering supernatural explanations for creation and existence. They explain phenomena like day, night, sky, light, rain, and human origins. Myths are related to religion, with ancient peoples using gods to explain events. While once considered true, myths are now seen as extraordinary stories. Examples include Greek, Roman, and Latin American myths, including Mapuche, Quechua, Easter Island, Chiloé, and Mayan myths.
2. Narrative Worlds Based on Intended Effect
2.1. The Realistic World
Realistic stories accurately depict events, objectively reflecting the characteristics of a time, place, and human types. Writers directly observe reality to achieve objectivity, with detailed descriptions enhancing credibility. Examples include Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace,” Manuel Rojas’s portrayals of poverty, Volodia Teitelboim’s depiction of northern Chile, and testimonial works about post-coup Chile.
2.2. The Fantastic World
Fantastic narratives transgress the rational order of events, incorporating marvelous, extraordinary, supernatural, and inexplicable elements. Often, the fantastic emerges within everyday situations, creating wonder, surprise, and doubt. Key authors include Julio Cortázar, Jorge Luis Borges, and Franz Kafka.
2.3. The Utopian World
Utopia, coined by Thomas More, refers to an ideal, often non-existent place or an impossible-to-achieve state. Alongside utopias are dystopias, which reflect negative states of humanity. Examples include Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm.
2.4. The Marvelous World
The marvelous is a constant in literature, from ancient myths to biblical stories and science fiction. It transcends time and space, existing beyond human and natural laws. Examples include One Thousand and One Nights and science fiction works like Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles and Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.
2.5. The Magical Realism World
In magical realism, humans and their environment are immersed in fantasy and mystery, where reality and wonder merge seamlessly. The laws of cause and effect may be violated, with dreams and hallucinations shaping a unique worldview. Miracles and rationality coexist, drawing from myths, legends, and oral histories. Key figures include Alejo Carpentier (The Kingdom of This World) and Gabriel García Márquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude).
2.6. The Legendary World
Legendary stories originate from oral tradition, sometimes based on historical facts, other times on popular fables with fantastic and wonderful elements. The protagonist can be a character, place, or event. Many epic poems stem from legends, such as the stories of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. In Chile, rich legendary stories include the Caleuche (Chiloé).