THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAGICAL REALISM OF KERSTIN GIER’S “SAPHIRBLAU” IN WENDY B. FARIS PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to describe (1) the characteristics of the magical realism, (2) the relation among elements, (3) levels of the magical realism, (4) socio-cultural context of Kerstin Gier’s “Saphirblau” by using the theory of the magical realism, narrative Wendy B. Faris. The data sources were obtained from Kerstin Gier’s roman “Saphirblau” published by Arena Verlag GmbH in Würzburg. The data were collected through technique study of literature and reading and note-taking. The technique of data analysis was descriptive qualitative. The validity of the data were semantic validity and expert judgement. The reliability of the data was attained through the intrarater and interrater reliability. The study showed that (1) the roman contains Faris’s five magical realism characteristics, i.e. (a) irreducible element: magical character (Gwendolyn, Gideon, Robert, dan James); magical objects (kronograf and book); and magical events (Gwendolyn could see, hear and even made friends with supernatural beings, Gwendolyn and Gideon can do time travel into the past), (b) phenomenal world: phenomenal character (Count Saint von Germain); phenomenal place (Globe Theatre and London Bridge); phenomenal time (three days ago), (c) unsettling doubts: character (Mr. George, Mr. Whitman, Mr. Marley, Mr. Jenkins, Caroline, Tante Maddy, dan Lucas); events (the mystery behind time travel, calculation of save time travel, Gwendolyn’s awkward feelings when faced with the Count Saint von Germain, the witchcraft and the spiritual things the noble learned); objects (candle and punch), (d) merging realms: character (Xemerius and Gwendolyn); place (school), (e) disruption of time, space and identity. (2) Each characteristic is inter-realated to each other. (3) The roman contains a strong magical realism. (4) The context of the socio-cultural aspects influenced the emergence of the magical realism of narration is the presence of Saint Germain and gargoyle.

Keywords: roman, magical realism, characteristics