I really can’t say anything about these stories because my mother taught me that if I can’t say anything nice I shouldn’t say anything at all.
But…here are the questions to discuss.
CHAPTER I
- What does the month of October represent for the colonel?
- The second paragraph of this novel describes the colonel’s “attitude of confident and innocent expectation.” How do you interpret this initial description of the colonel and its possible relation with the plot of the novel.
- Mention some indications of the political tension.
- Describe the economic situation in which the colonel and his wife find themselves.
CHAPTER 2
- Describe the doctor’s and colonel’s sense of humor.
- Describe the importance of his wife in the colonel’s life. Compare and contrast their personal traits.
- What do you understand about the political situation in the country based on the characters’ comments?
CHAPTER 3
- Discuss the role played by governmental bureaurocracy in the colonel’s life.
- What additional details are indicative of the colonel’s poverty..
- Discuss parallels between the characters in The colonel ... and those in “Balthazar’s Wonderful Afternoon”
CHAPTER 4
- Comment on the role played by the colonel’s pride in this novel.
- What importance does the rooster acquire after the colonel’s visit to the tailor’s
- Compare don Sabas and the colonel.
- What does the colonel think of don Sabas wealth?
- Comente: “You can’t eat illusions, but they nourish you.”
CHAPTER 6
- Discuss the doctor’s comments regarding don Sabas character.
- Explain the patriotic pact entered into by don Sabas and the mayor.
- What do we learn about the colonel’s character in the scene that takes place in the pool hall?
CHAPTER 7
- What transformation takes place in the colonel throughout this story that culminates at the end?
- What does the rooster represent for the colonel and for the town?
- What do we learn from this novel about the social and political reality of Colombia at the time it was written?