One Hundred Years of Solitude

1. THE AUTHOR AND HIS/HER TIMES: Born/Died; biographical background important to understanding the novel; important family; community, national and world events that influenced author and novel; other artistic or literary influences; critical response and literary standing during lifetime and posthumously. 2. POINT OF VIEW (Narrative Perspective): Is the novel written from the first person (“I”), second person (“you” very rare), or third person (“she/he”)? Is it a reminiscence or recent perspective written in the present tense or the past tense? If in the first person, is he/she the protagonist or an observer? If in the third is he/she omniscient (knowing everything), limited omniscient (knowing one character most often) or objective (no subject commentary by the narrator, but limited omniscient)? Most importantly, are there any shifts in point of view during the novel? What effect does the author achieve with the point of view and what seems to be his/her purpose? 3. CHARACTER: Describe 2-3 central characters: their name, age, three descriptive adjectives, appearance, personality, function in novel, significance of name, a key quote that reveals the character with an explanation of what the quote reveals. 4. SETTING: Where and when does the novel occur? How is the environment described? Any symbolic meanings in the setting? How does the author use setting? What atmosphere is created by the setting? How important is the setting in the novel? 5. SYNTAX: Take one passage you feel holds significant influence over a particular scene or over the novel as a whole and focus on the author’s syntax. What effect is the author creating? Comment on how these choices help define character, set tone, further theme, etc. Write the passage in its entirety on your assignment. 6. CONCRETE DETAIL/IMAGERY: What function does imagery seem to have in the novel? Use direct quotations from the text to support your observations. 7. SYMBOLISM: When an image is used to suggest complex or multiple meanings (for example, a hawk for war, a dove for peace, a swan for stately beauty, etc.) it becomes a symbol. Point out images 2-3 that were used as symbols. What function does the symbolism seem to serve in the novel as a whole? Use direct quotations or references from text to support your observations. 8. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE (TROPES): This is language that is not literal, but are metaphorical devices that link meaning. The most common are METAPHOR, SIMILE, PERSONIFICATION, AND ALLUSION. Point out examples 2-3 examples in the text (do not use the same device twice) and articulate how it is used. What effect does the figurative language have on the novel as a whole? 9. TONE: The author’s attitude toward her subject, characters, and reader. This could be playful, serious, angry, ironic, formal, somber, satiric, etc. Generally an author uses a limited variety of tones, often two or three complementary ones. Discuss the book’s tones and observe how the author creates them through plot, diction, syntax, imagery, figurative devices. Use direct quotations from text to support your observations. 10. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE: Comment on the book’s title. What message does the author want to convey with the title? Does the meaning of the title change for the reader from pre to post reading?