View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How had President Lauturo Munoz risen to power?

2. From what are the lepers under the rose bushes dying?

3. After both bulletins, how is the General's death finally announced?

4. What garment does the General wear in mourning?

5. What happens when the General refuses to allow U.S. troops into the nation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the General's final death.

2. After the Papal Nuncio decides that the event was not a miracle, what happens to him?

3. Who is actually running the government by the end of Chapter 5?

4. How does the General defeat Jose Ignacio Saenz de la Barra's attempted coup?

5. How does Jose Ignacio Saenz de la Barra attempt to undermine the General?

6. Describe Jose Ignacio Saenz de la Barra.

7. After he has finished with the school girl, how does the General deal with her?

8. How does Monsignor Demetrius Aldous investigate Bendicion Alvarado for sainthood?

9. How does the General learn how to read?

10. Why does Leticia always receive inferior merchandise from the market?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the way in which Gabriel Garcia Marquez treats politics and dictatorships in the novel. What is he saying about dictatorship? Does his General resemble any historical dictators? If so, what effect does this resemblance have on the purpose of the book? Be sure to provide specific evidence from the text as you write your essay.

Essay Topic 2

Garcia Marquez has focused his novel entirely on a totalitarian dictator who maintains control over the nation for decades, if not centuries. As such, power is a central theme in the novel. What is Garcia Marquez's commentary on the nature of power, absolute power, and/or political power? How does the interplay of power between the General and various characters factor into this commentary? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the ending of the novel. Who concludes the novel? Why is it significant that the narrative ends with this voice? Why does the final page end with dates? What effect does this ending have on the novel as a whole? Consider the structure, motifs, and narrative structure in your answer. Support your argument using evidence from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 818 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample