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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to the Red Cross shipments?

2. In which activity is General Rodrigo de Aguilar authorized to beat the General?

3. According to Aragones, who put the General in power?

4. Patricio Aragones proclaimed the General president of _________.

5. When does the comet pass by Manuela Sanchez's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the people react to the General's second death? Why do they react this way?

2. How does the General respond to Patricio Aragones's dying diatribe?

3. After the U.S. occupiers leave, why is Bendicion Alvarado unhappy?

4. How does the good fishwife unwittingly prove her loyalty to the General? Describe her actions.

5. Discuss the significance of the cows in the opening scene.

6. Describe the Caribbean Sea at the opening of Chapter 3.

7. How does Patricio Aragones feel toward the President?

8. How does Saturno Santos come to work for the General and why must he stop?

9. How does Manuela Sanchez respond to the appearance of the comet?

10. How does the General prepare for the coming hurricane?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, Garcia Marquez sets up a marked contrast between history and memory. In various instances in the novel, the official versions deviate greatly from the remembered histories. Why, do you think, Garcia Marquez creates so many discrepancies? Discuss Garcia Marquez's commentary on the nature of truth, history and memory. Provide evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the significance of the animal imagery in the novel. How does Marquez use animals to create an effect? What is this effect? Consider images such as the cow saluting the nation from the balcony in your response. Be sure to bolster your argument with support from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is renown for his masterful manipulation of magical realism in his fiction. Address the absurd and fantastical elements in the novel. What is the intended effect of these outrageous elements? How does this contribute to the political commentary in the novel? Provide evidence from the novel to support your assertions.

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