Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Study Questions

PART ONESANTIAGO NASAR AND HIS FAMILY

1. What is the significance of dreams, trees, and birds in this section?
2. What foreshadows Santiagos death?
3. Describe Santiago, his family, and household.
4. Give an example of magical realism.
5. How was Santiago dressed on the day of his murder and why?
6. Find examples of religious/violent/animal imagery.
7. Find ironic allusions to ancient Greek tragedy.
8. Who is the narrator and why is he telling this story?
9. Why is Santiago fascinated by the wedding?
10. Who tries to warn or aid Santiago in this section? Why?
PART TWOANGELA VICARIO AND BAYARDO SAN ROMAN
1. Contrast the Vicario and San Roman families.
2. Find evidence that supports Angelas virginity or loss of virginity.
3. Keep track of evidence for/against Santiago as the culprit.
4. How did Angelas mother respond when Bayardo returned his bride? Why?
5. What is the significance of flowers? What do you think they represent?
6. Find examples of double standard for men/women in this village.
7. How does Bayardo San Roman win the hand of Angela Vicario?
PART THREETHE VICARIO BROTHERS
1. Trace the Vicario brothers motives/actions in this section before and after the murder.
2. What were some excuses the villagers gave for not stopping the murder?
3. What do we learn about Maria Alejandrina Cervantes in this section?
4. The narrator quotes from the same poem in the epigraph as a warning to Santiago. What
does he say and what does it mean?
PART FOURPARODY
1. This section is a parody of an autopsy. List dark humor details.
2. Find religious references. What is the significance?
3. What is the significance of eating in this section?
4. Find more examples of magical realism here.
5. Whom do the villagers consider the real victim?
6. Follow the actions of the Vicario family in this section.
7. Find more evidence of Santiagos innocence.
8. What happens to Angela and Bayardo over the next 27 years?
PART FIVESANTIAGOS FINAL MINUTESANOTHER PARODY
1. What happens to Cristo Bedoya, Flora Miguel, and Placida Linero after the murder?
2. How is this a parody of an investigation?
3. Do you think Santiago Nasar was guilty?
4. Who left the note under his door?
5. Find evidence of religious parody in this final section. Explain why Santiago Nasar had
to die. Explain how the entire town is guilty of his murder.
6. Explain the significance of the ending.
7. Explain how the epigraph supports the story.
8. Explain the significance of the names of the characters.