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1. Who is the narrator of the novel? What are the current circumstances of the narrator in Chapter 1: “Boy with a Skull”?

The narrative of The Goldfinch is related from the perspective of the protagonist, Theodore "Theo" Decker, and begins with his description of a week that Theo has spent in a hotel in Amsterdam, never leaving his room during the day. From this point, the narrative is related in past-tense, with Theo describing the events that led him to this location.

2. What is the significance of the dream that is described by the narrator in Chapter 1: “Boy with a Skull”?

Theo describes a dream in which his mother appears to him as a reflection in a mirror at Hobie's shop. In the dream, Theo reaches out to her, but as always, he is unable to reach her. This imagery sets up the theme of longing and grief for the loss of Theo’s mother in the novel.

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