Glossary
Ambiente (Atmosphere)
The prevailing mood or feeling created by a literary work, often established through descriptions of setting, weather, and characters' emotions.
Example:
The oppressive heat and dense jungle create a tense Ambiente in "El hijo," mirroring the father's growing anxiety.
Ambigüedad (Ambiguity)
The quality of being open to more than one interpretation, leaving certain elements of a story, character traits, or motivations intentionally unclear.
Example:
The story's ending, where the father's final moments with his son are clouded by hallucination, uses Ambigüedad to deepen its emotional impact.
Criollismo
A Latin American literary movement that celebrates regionalism and the cultural identity of rural communities, often focusing on local customs, landscapes, and characters.
Example:
Quiroga's narrative embodies Criollismo by deeply rooting the story in the Misiones wilderness and the traditional life of its inhabitants.
Desdoblamiento (Doubling)
A literary technique where two characters or elements represent opposing or complementary facets of a single idea, theme, or character's psyche.
Example:
In "El hijo," the father and son can be seen as an example of Desdoblamiento, representing the duality of responsibility and innocence within human existence.
El Hijo
The young, energetic, and curious son in "El hijo," who embodies youthful vitality and responsibility, and whose actions trigger the father's deepest fears and hallucinations.
Example:
El Hijo's adventurous spirit and self-reliance are evident as he confidently sets off into the jungle, unaware of the tragedy that awaits.
Fluir de conciencia (Stream of consciousness)
A narrative technique that presents the continuous, often unedited, flow of a character's thoughts, feelings, and memories, mimicking the natural workings of the human mind.
Example:
The father's fragmented thoughts and internal monologues as he searches for his son are a prime example of Fluir de conciencia.
Geographic Context (Misiones)
The physical location and its natural characteristics that shape the setting, characters' actions, and overall atmosphere of a story.
Example:
The dense jungles and tropical climate of Misiones in "El hijo" are crucial to understanding the father's struggles and the son's deep connection to nature.
Historical Context
The specific time period and its significant events that influence a literary work, providing background for its themes and characters.
Example:
Understanding the Historical Context of Latin America's post-colonial era helps explain the themes of instability and change in "El hijo."
La construcción de la realidad (The Construction of Reality)
The theme exploring how individual perceptions, experiences, memories, and biases shape one's understanding and interpretation of the world and events.
Example:
The father's hallucinations, which make him perceive his son as alive even after finding him, illustrate La construcción de la realidad as his mind grapples with grief.
Las relaciones familiares (Family Relationships)
The complex bonds and dynamics within a family, exploring themes of unconditional love, responsibility, conflict, and the psychological impact of familial ties.
Example:
The unwavering love and protective instincts of the father towards his son are central to the theme of Las relaciones familiares in "El hijo."
Las relaciones interpersonales (Interpersonal Relationships)
The connections and interactions between individuals, emphasizing how dialogue, empathy, and communication impact their lives and understanding of each other.
Example:
The unspoken understanding and deep trust between the father and son exemplify strong Las relaciones interpersonales in the story.
Metaficción (Metafiction)
A literary device where a text self-consciously draws attention to its own status as a fictional construct, blurring the lines between reality and the story.
Example:
A novel that includes a character writing a novel about the very story you are reading is an example of Metaficción.
Narrador fidedigno o no fidedigno (Reliable or unreliable narrator)
A narrator whose credibility can be trusted (fidedigno) or questioned (no fidedigno) by the reader, influencing how the story's events are perceived.
Example:
In "El hijo," the omniscient narrator is generally considered a Narrador fidedigno, providing an objective account despite the father's subjective experiences.
Prosopopeya (Personification)
A literary device where inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas are given human qualities or abilities.
Example:
When the jungle is described as "watching" the father, it's an example of Prosopopeya, giving nature a human-like agency.
Socio-economic Context
The social and economic conditions prevalent during the story's setting, influencing characters' daily lives, struggles, and relationship with their environment.
Example:
The characters' reliance on hunting for survival reflects the Socio-economic Context of rural Misiones, where traditional subsistence was common.
The Father
A central character in "El hijo," depicted as a hardworking, caring man deeply devoted to his son, whose internal struggles and fears drive much of the narrative.
Example:
The Father's constant worry for his son's safety, despite his pride, reveals the profound anxieties of parenthood in a dangerous environment.