"House Taken Over" Literary Analysis

Open Ended

Bell Ringer (5 minutes):

Prompt:  Why might an author choose to use elements of both fantasy and reality in one story?

Literary Style Analysis

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"House Taken Over"
By: Julio Cortazar

Direct
Instruction

Labelling

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fantasy

reality

shock

surpise

Dropdown

Elements of magical realism include:




• Recognizable characters who ​

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• Realistic settings that include ​

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• Fantastic events that ​

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• An accepting or unimpressed narrative tone, or attitude, that presents fantastic 

events as ​

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Drag and Drop

Cortazar balances these elements carefully, creating a unique representations of ​

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world where ​

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events can still happen.

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realistic

dreamlike

chaotic

Guided
Practice

Categorize

Options (12)

"We rose at seven...lunched at noon precisely; then there was nothing left to do."(Paragraph 2)

"The dining room, a living room... a bath, the kitchen, our bedrooms and the hall."(Paragraph 5)

"'I had to shut the door to the passage. They’ve taken over the back part.'"(Paragraph 8)

"'They’ve taken over,' Irene said...dropped the knitting without looking at it."(paragraph 25)

"Irene never bothered anyone.Once the morning housework was finished, she knitted."(Parargraph3)

"We would die here someday...or... topple it ourselves before it was too late." (Paragraph 2)

"One entered the house through a vestibule with...tiles and a...gated door." (Paragraph 5)

"The house...too much dust...rise...and settle again on the furniture." (Paragrapraph 5)

"I heard something in the library...The sound came through muted and indistinct."(Paragraph 6)

"In that case...we’ll have to live on this side,”...picking up her knitting again."(Paragraph12)

...the yarn ran back toward the door and disappeared." (Paragraph 25)

"I sipped at the mate very carefully, she took her time starting her work again." (Paragraph 13)

Organize these passages into the right Elements of Magical Realism.

Recognizable Characters

Realistic Setting and Details

Fantastic Events

Unimpressed Tone

Individual Practice

Open Ended

1. How would you describe the setting of “House Taken Over?” How does it

match the magical realism model?

Open Ended

2. Does anything seem “off” about the two characters and their relationship?

Explain. 

Open Ended

3. What is the first fantastic event that occurs and how do the characters

respond?

Exit
Ticket

Open Ended

Reflection: How does Cortazar’s writing style contribute to the story’s mood and suspense?