Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Chapter one

1. Who is the narrator? What do we know about him? His relationship with the protagonist?

2. What did Santiago dream about the night before his death? What importance does this have to the story?

2. Describe the characters below (special qualities, relationships, etc.)

a. Santiago Nasar

b. Plácida Linero

c. María Alejandrina Cervantes

d. Ibrahim Nassar

e. Victoria Guzmán

f. Divina Flor

g. Cristo Bedoya

h. Pedro and Pablo Vicario

i. Luisa Santiago

3. The narration is composed of different moments in time. What are they? How is the transition from one moment to another accomplished?

4. What is a 'chronicle'? Why do you think it appears in the title of the novel?

5. How does García Márquez create suspense in this chapter?

6. Find and explain the references to "birds" in this chapter. How do you interpret them?