Magical realism simply refers to the inclusion of magical or supernatural elements in an otherwise more or less realistic setting. Let's look at some of these elements in each of the works.

In Beowulf, we meet the monsters Grendel and Grendel's mother. They are clearly not human (although the poet says they are descendants of the biblical Cain), and they possess supernatural strength. Luckily, so does Beowulf, so much so that he pulls off Grendel's arm. He needs a little help with Grendel's mother, though, and he finds just the thing in her lair: a magical, giant-made sword that he uses to kill his opponent. Later in the poem, Beowulf faces a dragon—much less successfully, for although he kills the dragon, it mortally wounds him in return. These magical/supernatural elements invite the reader to enter into the world of heroes and monsters and to think about the “monsters” they need to slay in their own lives.

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain cuts off the head of a mysterious Green Knight who merely picks up his head afterward and tells Gawain that in a year and a day, he must meet the knight at a designated location to receive a blow in return. Gawain meets with many adventures and a significant test of loyalty and virtue along his way to encounter the Green Knight a second time. Through these experiences, he (and readers along with him) learn important lessons about fear and faithfulness.

Le Morte d'Arthur features many magical elements in its early medieval setting. The wizard Merlin performs many acts of magic and can control nature and animals. The magical sword Excalibur, pulled by Arthur out of the stone, indicates Arthur's right to the kingship. Characters like Morgan le Fay and Uther Pendragon are magically disguised to carry out their rather nefarious purposes. Indeed, this tale teaches readers that things (and people) are not always as they seem.

Finally, The Christmas Carol introduces readers to the ghost of Jacob Marley who gives Scrooge a critical warning: change his miserly, nasty ways, or else! Scrooge is also visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future who instruct him in important truths about himself, his life, and the lives of the people around him. By the end of his supernatural encounters, Scrooge is a changed man, and readers, too, should feel their consciences poked to look more closely at their own behavior and how they treat others.