Chronicle of a Death Foretold STRUCTURE What is

Chronicle of a Death Foretold STRUCTURE

What is “Chronicle of a Death Foretold”? � It is a journalistic account of an historical murder that took place in Sucre, Colombia � It is a psychological detective story and a work of allegorical fiction ( a symbolical narrative) � It’s has a unique, successful balance of journalism and allegory; of history and morality play

Journalistic style The generic components of the novel are expressed stylistically � A sense of journalistic style is evident both through Marquez’ detached/ isolated portrayal of the daily habits of the town, and the collaboration of time down to the minute; for example, we know that Santiago woke up at 5: 30 in the morning to see the bishop, and that he was dead by 7: 05 � Marquez’ flat tone style adds to the journalistic approach, as well as the fact that he is always concerned with showing us the “who, what, where, how”. �

Why? Marquez is also concerned with the ‘why’, which is the main mystery throughout the novel; it compromises the psychological component of the story; there is no mystery to the story; we know who killed who and why � He more or less presents the social pressures a work, allowing us only a glance into the treatment of justice/ injustice instead of allowing us a simple answer or judgement �

Non-Linear The novel features a dislocation of events in a chronological order; it is an unusual structure that instead of unfolding chronologically, is released in a kind of spiral � Each chapter has its own system of time, tending to circle back on itself; For example, in the first paragraph, we learn that Santiago woke at 5: 30 a. m, that he was killed on a Monday and that the narrator is speaking from 27 years in the future � This obsession with time, in sync with the unusual structure, suggests the contradiction that however journalistically the events of the death are portrayed, our knowledge can never be certain �

A first person narrative � Alienated; although we do NOT know who the narrator is in COADF � A detached style of narrative- a scientific portrayal of events with a distinct lack of emotion and empathy with the reader A scientific report that describes the events of the novel without emotion, or portrayal of the narrator’s thoughts and feelings towards the characters; free indirect discourse � We don’t know who is telling the story; they are not involved with the plot THE OUTSIDER � THERESE RAQUIN Similarities in structure? �