Chronicle of a Death Foretold: Narrative and Style

Gabriel García Márquez's Masterpiece

This text offers commentary on Chronicle of a Death Foretold, written by Gabriel García Márquez. It is one of the most popular of all his works. Gabriel García Márquez won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982 and is one of the leading representatives of the so-called "boom" in Latin American Literature. Chronicle of a Death Foretold was published in 1981 and has many of the features that characterize this movement, such as magical realism.

Narrative Structure

In analyzing the structure, one must determine if the narrator is acting as a narrator-witness (first person) or is merely a chronicler collecting the testimonies of others (direct, indirect, free indirect).

Narrative Attitude and Style

The attitude is seemingly objective, witnessing the emergence of the narrator-chronicler who is supported by several sources, such as the judicial investigation, his mother's letters, and testimonies. The use of a judicial and objective lexicon is evident. However, we should not forget that this is a literary text, and therefore the approach is subjective. One could see the features of the language of literature: metaphors, hyperbole, and comparisons. The descriptive parts always have a subjective side. Literary figures allow us to speak of a presence of magical realism and unscientific folk beliefs.

There are also critical elements, such as irony or humor. This literary text is a narrative belonging to the subgenre of the novel, as reflected in its characteristics: a storyteller who tells about events that happen to some people in a specific place and time.

Reiteration of Key Points

This text belongs to a commentary on the proposed Chronicle of a Death Foretold, which was written by Gabriel García Márquez. It is one of the most popular of all his works. Gabriel García Márquez was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982 and is one of the leading representatives of the so-called "boom" of Latin American literature. Chronicle of a Death Foretold was published in 1981 and has many of the features that characterize this movement, such as magical realism.

In the structure, it must be determined if the narrator is acting as a narrator-witness (first person) or is merely a chronicler collecting the testimonies of others (direct, indirect, or free indirect).