Magical realism in Toni Morrison's Beloved and Song of Solomon

This thesis examines magical realism in literature and its reflections on Toni Morrison?s two novels Beloved and Song of Solomon. As an African-American writer whose aim is to represent the reality of black people in America, Morrison not only narrates the realistic events and people but also ghosts, magical characters and extraordinary events. Combining rational stories that are considered as the reflections of her American heritage and magical ones that are derived from her African heritage, the author narrates the reality of African-Americans from different aspects.In the first part of the thesis the history and meaning of magical realism is explored. Then the movement is compared with other literary movements such as; realism, postmodernism, surrealism and the fantastic. The second part seeks to prove that there are magical realist elements in Morrison?s novels. In order to display the realistic events that have been recorded or experienced and the supernatural characters, events and myths in Morrison?s novels, the books are observed in details. Moreover, the narration of Morrison and the important themes of her novels are also emphasized.Finally, this thesis explains how and why Morrison uses magical realism in her two novels and suggests that through magical realism the writer portrays the expanded reality of African-Americans that is not only realistic but also magical.