A Chronicle of A Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Now that we have come to the end of Marquez's convoluted tale that is A Chronicle of A Death Foretold, what is your opinion of the novel? What have you learned from it? Has it challenged you in any way? Do you feel it has improved your reading/analysis ability? How will you take what you have learned from this novel and apply it to other works you will read? Feel free to comment on any aspect of the novel you choose and don't be afraid to make your opinions known.

There was never a death more foretold...

By the end of Marquez' Chronicle of a Death Foretold, we realize everyone knew about the murder plot of Santiago Nasar and did nothing to stop it. During the murder, no one lifted a finger to stop it or help out Santiago. Why? What does it say about the town, the people in it and Santiago himself that no one stopped his brutal murder? What commentary about society in general was Marquez trying to make?

We dance round in a ring and suppose, While the secret sits in the middle and knows”-Robert Frost

All throughout Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold, secrets abound. The catalytic moment of the novel, the death of Santiago Nasar, is caused by Angela Vicario allegedly revealing the secret identity of the man who took her virginity. However, this information was never, ever confirmed. Everyone in the novel possesses secrets; some minor and silly others extremely important that have far reaching effects on the people and actions of the novel. Can secrets still do damage if no one knows them? Do secrets always come out eventually? Talk about how secrets affect the people and the action in the novel, but also discuss whether secrets even exist in our modern world.

"...trying to put the broken mirror of memory back together from so many scattered shards..."

The narrator of A Chronicle of A Death Foretold returns to the scene of Santiago Nasar's murder many years later to piece together clues. The villagers rely on their memories of the day's tragic events and of the many himself. What happens to memories as we age? Are memories ever reliable? How might memories distort reality, much like a mirror would do? Use examples from real life as well as from the novel.

CAS...Helping others...Helping yourself...

I know many of you are worrying about the CAS component of your IB diploma. I know it seems that more and more responsibilities are being heaped on your plate. Between homework, jobs and sports; when is there any more time to give? It is believed that performing community service and helping others helps build character and makes you a better person. Do you agree with this? Do you think giving time and helping those in need builds character? If you are helping people because you have to and not because you want to generates the same effects? What do you hope to get out of the CAS portion of your IB experience?

The List

Here is the list of the films that would benefit you as IB students and as educated individuals. Remember none of these films are mandatory. Please do not watch anything that you or your parents would find objectionable. The ratings range from G to R. If you watch any of these films, please blog about what you thought about them, and why you think they were included on the list. Have a fabulous Winter Break. You deserve the rest. I am so very proud of each and every one of you!

These films appear in no particular order.

1) The Star Wars movies (this has become our modern mythology)

2) Forrest Gump (a comedy, a tragedy and a history lesson all in one)

3) Scarface (a commentary on the American Dream. Gatsby for modern times)

4) Gone With The Wind (yes its four hours long but it is an amazing story. I want Scarlett's red dress. You will know the one)

5) Fight Club/American Psycho***(neither are for the faint of heart or squeamish. Especially American Psycho. Both are examples of post modernist films and came from amazing books)

6) O Brother Where Art Thou? (a retelling of The Odyssey)

7) I Am Legend (a social commentary on the race for cures with dire consequences)

8) The Last Samurai (Amazing story about the end of the Samurai culture in Japan)

9) Saving Private Ryan (a historical WWII film that is one of the best)

10) The Lion King (best Disney cartoon. Every literary element appears in this film)

11) Seven Pounds (the ending will leave you speechless)

12) Blade Runner (a haunting, visually stunning dystopian society)

13) Alien (one of the scariest movies ever)

14) The Graduate (life after college with no answers)

15) Moulin Rouge! (sappy story, amazing visuals. Same director remaking The Great Gatsby)

16) The Breakfast Club/Ferris Bueller's Day Off (no better 80's movies exist that stand the test of time)

17) Psycho (Alfred Hitchock, the pioneer of horror movies)

18) The Silence of The Lambs (no more evil, creepy genius serial killer exists)

19) Legends of The Fall (amazing story of an American family post WW1)

20) Anchorman/Zoolander (ridiculous satire and just plain fun)

Start with these and I will publish Part II another time. Happy watching!

IBelieve

You have now completed your Group 4 project, an IA and your IOP's. Even though these were trying times and a tremendous amount of work, you should feel extremely proud of yourselves for your accomplishments. That being said, what have you learned about yourself? What have these tasks revealed about your strengths and areas that you need to improve on? Reflect on these tasks and what you have learned.