Lesson Plan Sources

Sources for Lesson Plan

Word Search Puzzle Maker. March 29, 2007

This site helped us create a word search style cross word puzzle to pass out to the class for an assignment. It made the production of it very easy, and will help create an enjoyable way for students to brush up on their vocab and key terms of One Hundred Years of Solitude.




CP English. March 30th, 2007
<http://www.freewebs.com/zbsrgr8/>


This is a good site to help create a lesson plan. We used this site for some guidance when we were stuck on topics and ways to present them. We found it very helpful, and I plan on keeping this site in mind as a reference when I create real lesson plans when I teach.

Rubric for Lesson Plans

Rubric
-For the assignment incorporating technology, students will simply be graded on the amount of blogs they reflect on. They are required to reflect on four and they will be worth 10 points each. If students reflect on an extra blog, they will earn 10 bonus points. They will lose 10 points for each blog they do not reflect on. Students must post on their blogs which blog's they commented on.
-For the debate, students will be graded solely on participation. As long as they participate in the discussion, they will earn 20 points. However, making comments that disrupt the discussion will cause a loss of points.
-For the word search, students will receive 10 points for completing the puzzle. Not doing the puzzle will result in a zero.

Lesson Plan #3

Lesson Plan #3: Word Search

Goal
To educate students on a variety of characters, vocabulary, and themes from Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude by creating a word search for students to complete in class. This will also be a fun assignment for the students, but at the same time will provide them with a fair amount of knowledge.

Objectives
-Classroom introductions, explaining of rules and guidelines
-Explanation of assignment
-Passing out of assignment
-At this point we will walk around the class and assist students if they need help, also making sure they stay disciplined.
-As students finish, we will gradually form a group for a group discussion.
-With the remaining time we will have a class discussion regarding themes we found to be interesting in One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Lesson Plan #2

Lesson Plan #2: Debate
Prepared by: Sean O'Connor and Mike Bermejo

Goal
To create a fun but prosperous learning environment by having an educated debate in the classroom. This will reinforce topics learned in One Hundred Years of Solitude while teaching group lecturing skills and debate skills.

Objectives
-Description of assignment, classroom rules
-At this point, we will bring up certain topics from the book that are controversial and ask students for their viewpoints.
-Naturally, a debate should ensue with students who have a different thought on the topic.
-This is when myself and Mike will take an opposing side in the debate in order to add a little fuel to it.
-Judging from the characters in the class, we are sure that the debate will definitely be lively. However, we will take close measures to make sure that things do not get out of hand.
-If needed, disciplinary measures can and will be taken.

Lesson Plan #1

Lesson Plan #1: Incorporating Technology Into The Classroom
Prepared by: Sean O'Connor and Mike Bermejo

Goal
To incorporate technology (specifically the Internet) into the everyday classroom learning, giving the student a knowledge of computers and Gabriel Garcia's Marquez's masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude simultaneously. Additionly, students will develop writing and constructive criticism skills.

Objectives

1. Classroom introduction and greetings, run through of rules and guidelines.
2. Quick review of topics of interest from One Hundred Years of Solitude.
3. Run through of assignment, as well as discussing directions of the assigment.
4. Enter the computer lab.
5. At this point, students will access http://solitudeproject.blogspot.com/ either via Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer.
6. On the left hand side of the webpage, they are provided links to the pages of their classmates.
7. They must choose four (4) blogs and leave a reflection comment on any blog which they choose. Each reflection comment must be of substance and will be counted for a grade.
8. If time permits, we will discuss as a class our reflections, in addition to what were our favorite or least favorite blogs, and reasons for marking them as such.
9. We will either return to the classroom or dismiss from the computer lab, all depending on the time available.

Annotated Bibliographies

• Otalora, Sergio. "Colombia's Left." Hemisphere: A Magazine of the Americas Volume 11 (2002): pages 28-31

This is an article that, in great detail, explains the political history of Colombia. What grabbed my eye initially was the talk of a Liberal government taking over after a long run by the incumbent Conservative party. I thought this was very similar to what went on in One Hundred Years of Solitude. The author of this article describes also factors that played into the switching of power, in addition to how society in Colombia reacted to everything that came along with it.
I think that this source will help me greatly in writing my paper. My main focus is how Marquez was really writing about his displeasure with the government in his native Colombia, and this article helps show some of the chief problems occuring there during Marquez's time. Consequently, this gives me a fair amount of information to help base my paper off of. Otalora, the writer of this article, seems to be very knowledgable in this field and provides a fantastic source for me to work with. It is crucial in helping me tie together the connection between Marquez's feelings towards the Colombian government and what we writes in One Hundred Years of Solitude.

• Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia. March 12th, 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page>

This, although appearing as a somewhat broad and general source, is actually quite helpful. Wikipedia offers much info from a monstrous variety of topics, definitley including Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his works, beliefs, and history, and even more information on the Colombian government, both past and present. These topics are all vital for the development of my paper and in proving my thesis that Marquez was really writing in regards to the Colombian government in One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Reflection: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (as translated by Gregory Rabassa)

After finishing this book, I realized something: I finally agree with Oprah Winfrey on something. She proclaimed this to be an outstanding work of literature, and I can't do anything but agree. Gabriel Garcia Marquez does an uncomparable job writing this book. He shows how simple decisions can affect families for a lifetime, and how being so wrapped up in something can do so much damage. The end shows that Melquiade's writings were simply the chronicles, if you will, of the Buendia family. This begs the question: what if members of the family were not so caught up in his mysticism? Would they have been able to rewrite these prophecies by living their lives? Garcia fascinated readers throughout this entire book, and at the same time was able to share his opinions, thoughts, feelings, dreams, even political views. Most importantly, he did what is truly the beauty of writing: he shared us his life, while making a brilliant piece of work in the process.

Active Reading: Chapter Twenty

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER TWENTY

Quotes
"Many years ago there used to be a street here with that name and in those days people had the custom of naming their children after streets."
This is a priest's response to the idea of the Buendia family.
"...Colonel Aureliano Buendia fought thirty-two cili wars and lost them all...the army hemmed in and machine-gunned three thousand workers and that their bodies were carried off to be thrown into the sea on a train with two hundred cars."
This is Aureliano II trying to convince the priest of the past, but he doesn't buy it: "Oh, my son. It's enough for me to be sure that you and I exist at this moment."
This is a great example of how the once ever so important Buendia family now means absolutely nothing.

Magical Realism
The deciphering of Melquiade's prophecies to be the history of the Buendia family, as well as everything that has happened, is happening, or will happen with the family.

Themes
The ending of an era. Finally the Buendia family will end altogether, much of which has to do with bad decisions made by the family as a whole through all of the generations. Most of the pain is self inflicted.

Character Development
Aureliano II and Amaranta Ursula have a child named Aureliano III. Just was warned, it has a pig tail because it was born from an incestuous relationship. Amaranta Ursula dies.

Summary
Aureliano II and Amaranta Ursula have a child named Aureliano III. As predicted by Ursula, it has a big tail because it is a product of incest. Soon after giving birth, Amaranta dies from bleeding. He flees to drink with his former hooker girlfriend, and forgets the child. At this point, he knows the family is over. He isolates himself, determined to understand what Melquiade's prophecies mean. Finally, he realizes that it is the Buendia family history. Melquiades tells of what will happen, and everything is totally accurate. He even writes about Aureliano II reading the prophecies. While this goes on, the town is washed away into nothing but a memory.

Active Reading: Chapter Nineteen

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER NINETEEN

Quotes
"It's all right, child, now tell me who it is."
This is Pilar Ternera, who Aureliano II visits for advice. She is very old and wise, and is of much help to him. Here, she is asking who he is in love with. When he responds Amaranta Ursula, she responds, "Don't you worry, wherever she is right now, she's waiting for you."

Magical Realism
The fact that the Buendia's have faded away out of Macondo's memory. Once the most recognized family in the village, as well as the most important, they now mean next to nothing. Their drop from the top proved to be a long, drawn out battle full of pain and suffering.

Themes
Change, love. Amaranta Ursula returns with her husband Gaston and wants to help revive Macondo. While there, Aureliano II falls in love with her and they have a relationship. Before they have anything official, Aureliano II has a relationship with a black prostitute he meets around Macondo. This also shows how Macondo has changed, now having prostitutes.

Character Development
Aureliano II falls in love with Amaranta Ursula. Gaston wishes to become an entrepreneur there in Macondo and the surrounding Latin areas.

Summary
Chapter nineteen is marked by the return of Amaranta Ursula. She brings with her her European husband Gaston. She intends to help change Macondo, but when she is there she realizes that it will be an impossible task to accomplish. Aureliano II starts to fall in love with her during her trip, and spends much time considering having a relationship with her. The fear of incest in the family, long forgotten, seems to play little factor in his choice to go for her. She puts up a fight to having sex with him, but she eventually caves in.

Active Reading: Chapter Eighteen

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Quotes
"I give up. This is too much hour for my poor bones."
This is Santa Sofia de la Piedad talking, who decides she needs to leave the house for her own welfare. She cannot take nurturing those living in the house anymore, and feels that she needs to move on. It is not clear where she goes to, just that she leaves for good.

Magical Realism
Aureliano II continuing the study of the work of Melquiades, in addition to him being visited by the ghost of Melquiades from time to time.

Themes
Struggle. The family struggles to recover after the great flood, and they have to rely on food from Petra Coates. They also deal with the death of Fernanda del Carpia, although frankly it does not affect anyone greatly because of her attitude. Jose Arcadio II is struggling majorly until he find's the gold that Ursula left. He parties quite a bit, and is eventually killed and robbed of it.

Character Development
Fernanda del Carpio dies, Santa Sofia de la Piedad leaves the family, Jose Arcadio II comes home after really not getting an education at all, just hoping he can live off the family wealth. He is devastated to find out that they are poor, and ends up finding the gold Ursula left. He is eventually killed for it. Aureliano II continues to learn more, following in the foot steps of Melquiades.

Summary
The family becomes poor, and they are living off food made by Petra Coates. Aureliano II continues his quest for knowledge, and Jose Arcadio II returns after spending years away not really learning anything. He comes back with nothing at all, until he discovers Ursula's gold. He spends some of it on lavish parties, all the while getting closer with Aureliano II. However, Jose Arcadio II gets murdered one night all for his fortune. Also in this chapter, Fernanda del Carpia dies and Santa Sofia de la Piedad packs up and leave the family and Macondo.

Active Reading: Chapter Seventeen

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Quotes
"Lord save us! So much trouble teaching you good manners and you end up living like a pig."
This is Ursula's reaction to finding Jose Arcadio Segundo living in solitary squalor.
"What did you expect? Time passes."
This is Jose Arcadio Segundo's response to his great-grandmother, and she replies, "That's how it goes, but no so much."

Magical Realism
The heat wave and mass death of several hundred birds. Also, the "Wandering Jew" who is discovered in the town. The deaths of Aureliano Segundo and Jose Arcadio Segundo happening at the exact same instant.

Themes
Death, decrepitness. Ursula, Rebeca, Aureliano Segundo, and Jose Arcadio Segundo all die. Also, the town is now run down and without prospering. The former prosperity is now all just a faded memory remembered by very few.

Character Development
Ursula, Rebeca, Aureliano Segundo, and Jose Arcadio Segundo all pass away. Also, Aureliano II is told about Macondo's past and is urged to live on in his family's legacy, not being afraid to evaluate prophecies and mysticism.

Summary
This chapter has much death in it, as the Segundo twins die, as do the 120-year-old matriarch Ursula, and Rebeca. They all strive to make their own personal rebirths, however, before they die, and are pretty sucessful. They are able to re-light old love flames, give their children guidance, and pass on memories and stories for the young ones. In a word, they prepare the younger family members for the road ahead of them. The town goes through a heat wave, and many people and animals die. Because of this, in addition to the crushed economy (compared to what once was), people believe Macondo is cursed.

Active Reading: Chapter Sixteen

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Quotes
"Please shut up."
This is Aureliano Segundo, who is becoming totally sick of hearing Fernanda del Carpia's voice. He cannot take her bickering anymore, and she retorts, "I don't have any reason to shut up, anyone who doesn't want to listen to me can go someplace else."

Magical Realism
The extreme rain storm that is still going on in Macondo. It is slowly but surely destroying almost everything in the town, causing great floods that are bringing high rates of death and damage. For instance, Aureliano Segundo's and Petra Coates's animals have all perished in the floods.

Themes
Disaster. The flood has crippled Macondo, as any huge disaster does in real life.

Character Development
Ursula declines even more so than before, and Aureliano Segundo finally starts to show much Fernanda del Carpia irritates him. He becomes very explosive and angry with her.

Summary
Since the treacherous storm is still going on, Aureliano Segundo makes the most out of his time by spending time with the children of the home. Ursula is near incoherence and is basically just around to tell the children stories of their ancestors. The storm takes it's toll on everyone, especially Aureliano Segundo who loses all of his livestock. The storm finally ends, and the entire town is starting to decline as a result of the destruction the storm has left.

Active Reading: Chapter Fifteen

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Quotes
"Ladies and gentlemen, you have five minutes to withdraw."
This is a captain of the military talking to the plantation owners, who have gone on strike because of bad working conditions. They are asked to have a meeting with the government, but it is actually a set up for the workers to be shot, as demonstrated by the captain going on to say, "Five minutes have passed, one more minute and we'll open fire."
Jose Arcadio Segundo, enraged by the government's action, responds by saying, "You bastards! Take the extra minute and stick it up your ass!"
The army goes on to kill all of the workers. Jose Aracdio Segundo, however, manages to survive without the soldiers knowing.

Magical Realism
Jose Arcadio Segundo surviving the gun attack of the military, then returning to Macondo and nobody believing his story. Also, the people of Macondo being brainwashed by the government and not remembering any of the occurences involving the banana plantation and it's workers. Also, the continous downpoor that continues for years after the mass execution.

Themes
Genocide. The government kills over 3,000 plantation workers simply because they are asking for better working conditions.

Character Development
Jose Arcadio Segundo sticks up for his beliefs, dodges death, returns to his homeland via foot, tells his story, is shunned by society, lives as a hermit, studies mystical objects, and slowly loses his mind all in one chapter. Need I say more?

Summary
The main thing in this chapter is the mass killing of all of the plantation workers. They are on strike, demanding better working conditions. The government sets up a "meeting" with them, but in actuality it is just a set up for them to be terminated. Jose Arcadio Segundo, however, escapes death and is able to flee and come home. When he comes back, nobody remembers what happened, as the government brainwashed all the citizens from remembering the genocide. People with any affiliation to the banana plantation are still being killed, so Jose Arcadio Segundo hides in seclusion in the room of Melquiades. He becomes enthralled by Melquiade's gypsy possessions and tools, and eventually loses his mind from spending every waking second in the small, secluded room. Also, Meme is taken by Fernanda to a convent after her relations with Mauricio Babilonia. She is distraught because he is a paraplegic after the guard shot him, and all she does is think of him. Months later, a nun brings the child of the couple to Fernanda, and she names him Aureliano II. They claim that they found the child.

Active Reading: Chapter Fourteen

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Quotes
"Don't worry, the first thing I'll do when I get there is to ask for him and give him your message."
Amaranta is anticipating death, almost looking forward to it, and here is offering to take messages from loved ones to their friends and/or family who have died. Strangely, she is 100% fine with the thought of her death, accepts it, and is ready for her time to come that evening.

Magical Realism
Amaranta's positive, upbeat attitude that lasts until moments before her death. It is surprising that someone would have this outlook on an appending death.

Themes
Death and birth. This happened before in Solitude as well, and it is happening again. In the wake of Colonel Aureliano Buendia dying and Amaranta awaiting her death, Fernanda del Carpia and Aureliano Segundo give birth to another child, whom they name Amaranta Ursula.

Character Development
Fernanda and Aureliano Segundo have another child. Amaranta dies, and Ursula becomes bed ridden. However, she does become close to Amaranta Ursula, the daughter or Fernanda del Carpia and Aureliano Segundo. Meme grows up more, getting closer to her father partly because they both hate Fernanda. Also, Meme falls in love with a plantation worker.

Summary
In chapter fourteen, Amaranta realizes that she is soon to die and accepts the fact. She is ready to go, almost to the point of jubilance and excitement. This masks her feelings of a lonely, fruitless life. Before this occurs, Fernanda del Carpia and Aureliano Segundo have another daughter who they name Amaranta Ursula. The matriarch of the family, Ursula, becomes bed ridden but manages to develop a good relationship with the young girl. The girl appreicates Ursula's contributions to the family and looks up to her. Remedios the Beauty gets closer with her father, and manages to fall in love with a worker of the banana plantation. They have to sneak around in order to have a "relationship," but eventually the man is shot by a guard when he is suspected of having sex with Meme.

Active Reading: Chapter Thirteen

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Quotes
"The years nowadays don't pass the way the old ones used to."
Ursula is starting to age and this quote shows it. Time is dragging on and on for her and it seems like she is stuck in the same place. Her health begins to decline and she cannot tend to the needs of her family. Much of her health problems are based off of all of the tragedy that she has seen during her long, long lifetime.

"Rebeca, how unfair we've been to you!"
Here again is Ursula. This time she is talking to Rebeca who she feels very sorry for, after all of the hardship that they put her through during her life, especially during her stages of depression.

Magical Realism
Ursula gets around even better now that she is blind, and can still manage to know where she is and where people are at. This supposedly comes from her sense of knowledge that she's experienced during her life.

Themes
Change, age. Ursula grows old and goes blind and is nearing her ending years. Also, most of the children move out of the family house and get out on their own.

Character Development
Ursula gets older and changes for the worse, health wise mostly. Fernanda del Carpia again tries to force her beliefs over everyone else. She tries to take over and become the new matriarch, but again it isn't flying. Colonel Aureliano becomes more depressed and sickly, eventually dies.

Summary
This chapter is marked by the aging of Ursula. She has gone blind, but now has a keener sense of her surroundings, as they say blind people do. Jose Arcadio II espires to become a pope and he leaves for a monestary. Meme also goes away to school, which really empties the family home. Fernanda del Carpia attempts to re-establish herself as a power in the household, but nobody really wants to listen to her. Aureliano Segundo and Petra Coates live together. Colonel Aureliano continues to live in a deep depression and starts to lose his grip of reality even more so than before. Eventually, he dies.

Active Reading: Chapter Twelve

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER TWELVE

Quotes
"Look at the mess we've got ourselves into, just because we invited a gringo to eat some bananas."
This quote shows the rapid degree of change going on in Macondo. Colonel Aureliano, who this quote is from, is upset with the change in government style, especially the manner it is going on in. He blames the Conservatives, and starts to think ending the war was not a good idea at all.

Magical Realism
Meme ascending into heaven. This is very similar to Mother Mary, which I believe is what Marquez was shooting for by having this happen. A comparison can be made because people are dying as a result of her, just as Jesus died for Mary.

Themes
Change. The political affiliation is switching yet again, and immigrants are more prevalent in Macondo than ever. This ticks off some of the old timers, especially Colonel Aureliano. It seems that more power is given to the owners of the banana plantations, the country's biggest form of income.

Character Development
16 of the 17 Aureliano children are murdered after trying to start a war, Colonel Aureliano becomes very depressed, and Macondo itself really changes as a whole because of the new people and objects available. Remedios also ascends into heaven after having countless die because of her endless beauty. After the deaths of his sons, Colonel Aureliano wants to start another war, but cannot find anyone who wants to back him.

Summary
Macondo begins to change in a huge way. More outlets in and out of the village means more resources and people that can enter. Foreigners come in and push for a capitalist government, and banana plantation owners gain a large amount of power (and respect) around the village. This angers Colonel Aureliano Buendia, who believes newcomers should not have so much power and control. He convinces his 17 sons to battle against them, but this meets a road block when 16 of the 17 sons are brutally shot and killed before they can even attack these people. This sends the Colonel into a great depression, and he tries to start a war but nobody wishes to take his side. This proves that great change anywhere can be bittersweet: the economy may benefit, but it may not always be in the best interest of the citizens. There are also many inuendos to the Colombian government in this chapter, possibly the most we have read yet.

Active Reading: Chapter Eleven

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER ELEVEN

Quotes
"We're becoming people of quality. At this rate we'll end up fighting against the Conservative regime again, but this time to install a king in its place."
This quote is Colonel Aureliano complaining about Fernanda del Carpio and the changes she is bringing about in the family household. This quote causes a fair amount of tension between her and Colonel Aureliano, as he is not one to bite his tongue, and at the same time she is not one to put up with statements that she does not agree with.

Magical Realism
The House of Buendia being turned into a cemetery like place. This symbolizes that since Fernanda del Carpio has moved in, the tone of the house has turned somewhat somber. Also, this means that death is looming around the family, really as it always has. This is probably foreshadowing some type of tragedy that will strike the family (again).

Themes
Change reappears as a theme in the book. Fernanda del Carpio comes in and starts trying to change the house and the family. She not only changes the appearance of the home, but the way the family acts as well. Sadness is an underlying theme, as one of Colonel Aureliano's son (Aureliano Triste) has a name that means sadness. Another theme that can be tied in would be entreprenuership. Aureliano Triste is going to build the ice factory that Jose Arcadio Buendia dreamed about. Also, solitude again as Aureliano Triste discovers that Rebecca is still living alone in conditions of squalor.

Character Development
Fernanda del Carpia is exposed as a kniving person, trying to change everything about the family. Her personality clashes with the Colonel Aureliano, as he is not willing to change how things are run in the house. Aureliano Segundo and Fernanda have a 2 children, Meme and Jose Arcadio II. Aureliano Triste decides to start an ice factory. Triste also starts a train line that connects Macondo with the main land.

Summary

The big occurrence of chapter eleven is Fernanda del Carpio joining the family household. She tries changing many aspects of the family, both physically and mentally. Because of this, she clashes with some members of the family who aren't willing to change. Never-the-less, she has a family with Aureliano Segundo. The president tries to honor Colonel Aureliano on the anniversary of the end of the war, but he gets mad and wants absolutely nothing to do with the ceremony. His seventeen illigitimate sons come to Macondo for the celebration, and we see more about them. Two of the brothers remain in Macondo, incorporating an ice factory and making a railway connection to other areas of land surrounding Macondo.

Reflection

So far, I've enjoyed the book. However, I'm not sure what I have gained out of it. I mean yeah, I've picked up on a bunch of different themes, but what is the significance? What does everything mean? I feel like I haven't learned the essence of the book, and I wonder if I really will. The paper is supposed to be on theme, but if I don't know exactly what the themes mean, how am I supposed to churn out eight pages worth? Maybe active reading will help me understand what everything means. Or, maybe it will just spin me farther and farther into my current cycle. Overall, I guess the only question I have from the book is what exactly have I learned, and what exactly am I learning?

Active Reading: Chapter Ten

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER TEN

Quotes
"Who were you talking to?"
"Nobody."
"That's what your great-grandfather did, he used to talk to himself."
This is a conversation between Ursula and her grandson Aureliano Segundo. This occurs after she hears him talking to the ghost of Melquiades. Aureliano Segundo kept these discussions very private, and thought of them as a totally different side of him. He felt like this private world of his would be exposed, so he denied it. This shows a similarity between Jose Arcadio Buendia and Aureliano Segundo, as they both would speak with Melquiades the gypsy after he passed away.

Magical Realism
The re-appearance of the ghost of Melquiades would be an example of magical realism. He appears to Aureliano Segundo and holds deep conversations with him, just as the ghost would with Jose Arcadio Buendia.

Themes
Maturation. Aureliano's twin sons both mature into unique young men, and put much more into this book as people being to die more frequently.

Character Development
Aureliano Segundo takes an interest into mystical things, just as Jose Arcadio Buendia. His twin brother, Jose Arcadio Segundo, becomes religious. That doesn't last, however, and he soon gets in to the sport of cockfighting, just as ancestors of his did. They both have relations with a woman named Petra Cotes, and she does not notice that they are two different people.

Summary
We see the Segundo twins in a whole new light. They are now mature and living lives for themselves. Aureliano Segundo explores the workshop of Melquiades, and Jose Arcadio Segundo explores many different fields. Aureliano Segundo gets loaded off live stock, and becomes one of the prominent figures in town. Jose Arcadio Segundo takes an interest in navigation and exploration, and has moderate success. On one of his ships, he has a large group of hookers who are having a party in Macondo. The biggest hit of the party: Remedios, who has now blown up as a beautiful woman.

Active Reading: Chapter Nine

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER NINE

Quotes
"Aureliano, it's raining in Macondo."
"Don't be a jackass, Gerineldo. It's natural for it to be raining in August."
This is a telegraph between Colonel Gerineldo Marquez and Colonel Aureliano Buendia. It shows the intense pressure the two are under due to the war, and how they are slightly growing apart. This also shows that Aureliano is beginning to change for the worse, most likely from the war that is making little progess for the Liberals.

Magical Realism
Aureliano attempting to kill himself, but somehow it does not work. This is somewhat far fetched, especially because a shot to the chest usually will kill someone.

Themes
Depression. Aureliano is very depressed from the war, especially after Jose Moncada is put to death. He see's no purpose in the war and exiles himself away from his loved ones, at least in a mental state.

Character Development
Aureliano, again, goes into a solitary state of isolation, to the point of a suicide attempt. He finally evaluates his problems when Marquez is sentenced to death. He and Marquez decide that they need to stop the war, changing their political viewpoints.

Summary

The two Colonels in the book, Marquez and Aureliano, start to realize that the war is getting them nowhere. Aureliano is distraught and returns home stranger than ever. It gets so bad that at one point he even tries to take his own life, but he survives. Marquez falls in love with the single Amaranta, but she rejects him, although she does care about him. Aureliano recovers soon after Marquez has his charges dropped, and together they try to end the war. They end up battling their own Liberal troops. He signs a treaty ending the war, and starts to feel that he has let down his party. Ursula, his mother, focuses hard to help her son recover, both mentally and physically.

Active Reading: Chapter Eight

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER EIGHT

Quotes
"Can a person marry his own aunt?"
This is Areliano Jose, the son of Aureliano, asking a colleague if it is possible to marry an aunt (in this case, Amaranta is being referred to).
"He not only can do that, but we're fighting this war against the priests so that a person can marry his own mother."
This is the soldier's response to Aureliano Jose. After that response, Aureliano Jose ditches and goes to find Amaranta to try and marry her.

Magical Realism
All seventeen (17) of Aureliano's sons are brought to be baptized, and they are all named Aureliano.

Themes
Passion is the biggest theme. More specifically, that of incest. Aureliano Jose is madly in love with his aunt Amaranta, and they actually have a fling for a period of time. However, he goes away and cannot pursue it. When he decides to come back and go for it, she is completely against it but he is still deeply in love with her.

Character Development
Again, Aureliano Jose grows up to fall deeply in love with his aunt Amaranta. Colonel Aureliano leaves the country and goes all over to start Liberal uprisings. For awhile, Aureliano Jose is with him but then leaves to find Amaranta.

Summary
The focal points of this chapter are Aureliano Jose falling in love with Amaranta and Colonel Aureliano fleeing the country after a peace agreement is made with the Conservatives. Aureliano Jose and Amaranta have their fair share of romantic rendezvous until they are almost caught. Amaranta cools and he leaves with Aureliano. He puts more thought into being with Amaranta and leaves, but when he goes back she wants no part of an incestuous relationship. Soon after being rejected, he is killed by a Conservative soldier.

Active Reading: Chapter Seven

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER SEVEN

Quotes
"He's alive, let's pray to God for his enemies to show him clemency."
This is Ursula talking after she finds out that her son Aureliano is alive after the war. She is ecstatic, but does not know yet that he is to be executed.
"I don't know how the miracle took place, but he's alive and we're going to see him very soon."
The book then says how she took this for granted. Once she finds out she gets worried, goes to visit, and Aureliano sends her home to prevent him from getting into more trouble.

Magical Realism
Flowers falling randomly from the sky at moments of death would be an example of this.

Themes
Death and grief. Jose Arcadio and Jose Arcadio Buendia both pass away, leaving the family in major sadness and pain.

Character Development
Colonel Aureliano and his friend Gerineldo Marquez are sentenced to death, but escape. Jose Arcadio dies randomly and mysteriously, then Rebbeca goes into solidarity out of despair. Then, towards the end of the chapter, Jose Arcadio Buendia finally dies after a long battle with a mental illness.

Summary
Chapter seven starts off with the war ending, and the Liberals losing. Aureliano is alive, but sentenced to death. Before his death he escapes and tries to start more uprisings. However, he is again unsuccesful. He does, however, regain Macondo. Jose Arcadio dies, and nobody is sure of what happened. Suicide is speculated, however murder is not ruled out as well. Rebecca, as a result, puts herself in isolation out of sorrow and sadness. After all of these tribulations, Jose Arcadio Buendia then dies after years of suffering from a mental illness.

Active Reading: Chapter Six

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER SIX

Quotes
"Don't be simple, Crespi. I wouldn't marry you even if I were dead."
Pietro Crespi asks Amaranta to marry him, and this is her response. She is still hurt that he spurned her in the past and is letting him know so. However, she does have a love for him still, but is more hurt than anything.

Magical Realism
Aureliano never won one battle as a colonel.

Themes
A good example of a theme in chapter six would be loss, dissapointment, or failure. This includes the liberals loss of the war, Arcadio being an unsuccessful dictator which leads to his execution, and the suicide death of Crespi after he is rejected by Amaranta.

Character Development
Aureliano as a military ruler, his son Arcadio as a dictator, and Amaranta as being somewhat cold hearted.

Summary
"Colonel" Buendia returns unsuccessful in war, as the Liberals lose greatly. His son, who served as dictator, Arcadio, is executed after the loss. Before this, however, he has three children. Pietro Crespi kills himself after he is rejected in marriage by Amaranta.

Active Reading: Chapter Five

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER FIVE

Quotes
"Fuck nature two times over, and I've come to tell you not to bother going to ask Rebecca anything."
Jose Arcadio wants to marry Rebecca and is angry that Pietro Crespi is getting in his way of doing so.

Magical Realism
Jose Arcadio, after his return, tells of obviously embellished travels of his.

Themes
Love and death again, with Jose Arcadio returning and falling in love with Rebecca, and Crespi and Armaranta beginning to have sparks, and Remedios passing away after helping raise Aureliano's child with Ternera.

Character Development
Remedios passes away after showing much compassion in her young life, Jose Arcadio returns and falls in love with Rebecca, and Crespi returns to Italy to deal with his sick mother.

Summary
This is by far the craziest chapter yet. It is really a roller coaster ride, to say the least. Remedios passes away soon after her and Aureliano are married. The whole home is in deep sadness, and again Crespi and Rebecca cannot get married. During this time Jose Arcadio returns out of the blue, and he and Rebecca begin a love affair. During this time, Crespi and Aramanta become close again. A war breaks out in Macondo between the conservatives and the liberals, and Aureliano finally comes out of exile to side with the liberals; he is highly upset at his father-in-law's political affiliation.

Active Reading: Chapter Four

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER FOUR

Quotes
"Love is a disease, with so many pretty and decent girls around, the only thing that occurs to you is to get married to the daughter of our enemy."
This is Jose Arcadio Buendia's response to Aureliano wanting to marry Remedios. He doesn't agree with it, and neither does Moscotes, who says, "It doesn't make sense. We have six other daughters, all unmarried, and at an age where they deserve it, who would be delighted to be the honorable wife of a gentleman as serious and hardworking as your son, and Aurelito lays his eyes precisely on the one who still wets her bed."

Magical Realism
The fact that a grown man is about to engage in a relationship with a prepubescant girl.

Themes
Love is a main one, especially with Aureliano as he is having a relationship with Pilar and Remedios. Also, Pietro Crespi and Rebecca have a relationship, and Armanta is highly upset and jealous at this. This leads to conflict between the two, and Aramanta promises to not let Crespi and Rebecca get married.

Character Development
Pietro Crespi is introduced, and Remedios is established as a very young girl, both mentally and physically. She is not capable of a relationship. Also, Jose Arcadio Buendia begins to lose his grip of reality, along with his mind. Pilar Ternera also is a woman who is sexually and romantically frustrated.

Summary
Love is a frequent ocurrence in chapter four. Pietro Crespi and Rebecca are to be married, as are Remedios and Aureliano (though somewhat sick). Pilar Ternera is pregnant with Aureliano's child, and it really does not phase him because he is so in love with Remedios. Jose Arcadio Buendia is so focused in his studies that he begins to go crazy. He thinks that the same day is repeating itself, much like the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day (except Jose Arcadio Buendia is crazy). Aramanta threatens the wedding of Rebecca and Crespi, and Rebecca is deeply troubled by this, almost tormented.

Active Reading: Chapter Three

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER THREE

QUOTES
"So if you want to stay here like any other ordinary citizen, you're quite welcome. But if you've come to cause disorder by making the people paint their houses blue, you can pick up your junk and go back where you came from. Because my house is going to be white, like a dove."
Jose Arcadio Buendia is talking to Don Apolinar Moscote, who was a magistrate sent by the government to take some sort of control over Macondo. Jose Arcadio Buendia obviously was not happy with this move by the government and told Don Apolinar Moscote so himself. This started a small conflict between the government and Macondo.

Magical Realism
Melquiades returning from the dead to provide the towns people an antidote from their infliction of insomnia and memory loss.

Themes
The most apparent theme in chapter three is progress. Macondo expands after Ursula helps develop a path for people from other places to get there. The town develops and starts to grow in population. Religion also is shown as a theme, and Jose Arcadio Buendia tries to promote religion here in the town. Example: one of the signs put up for towns people to read says "God Exists".

Character Development
We are introduced to Pilar Ternera, who is the wife of Jose Arcadio and daughter-in-law of Jose Arcadio Buendia. She gives birth to Arcadio (son of Jose Arcadio and grand son of Jose Arcadio Buendia). Rebecca is introduced; she shows up at the family household one day and her past is unknown, so the family raise her as their own. Also Jose Arcadio Buendia develops into a man who takes much pride in his home and doesn't want outsiders interferring with the ruling of it.

Summary
In my opinion, the most interesting of the first three chapters is by far this one. Rebecca shows up to the family home and has insomnia, and this affliction eventually spreads through the entire town. The insomnia causes memory loss, and everything must be marked for the towns people to know what is what. Melquiades, who has somehow raised from the dead, uses his "gypsy connections" to get an antidote for everyone. Melquiades also brings a daguerreotype for Jose Arcadio Buendia, because he knows his fascination with technology and inventions. A magistrate from the government comes to town and orders the towns people to paint their homes blue. Irate, Jose Arcadio Buendia throws the magistrate out of town. When he returns, they make an agreement peacefully. Aureliano, one of Jose Arcadio Buendia's sons, falls in love with the magistrate's nine-year-old daughter.

Active Reading: Chapter Two

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER TWO

Quotes
"You go home and get a weapon, because I'm going to kill you."
Jose Arcadio Buendia is talking to Prudencio Aguilar, who was talking smack to Jose after losing a cockfight. Aguilar made an insulting remark regarding Jose and Ursula by saying, "Congratulations! Maybe that rooster of yours can do your wife a favor."
This infuriated Jose, and he followed up on his word and killed Aguilar with a spear.

Magical Realism
An example of magical realism in chapter two is the uncle being born with the tail of a pig because he was born out of an incestuous romantic experience.

Themes
Anger and death. In the situation I am using, both are going on simultaneously. Jose Arcadio Buendia and Prudencio Aguilar are angry with each other after Jose defeats Prudencio in a cock fight (well, Jose's rooster does...whatever), Prudencio gets wise, and Jose take's Prudencio's life as a result.

Character Development
We start to think that maybe Jose is a hard-ass (for lack of a better term), but we see that maybe he is just insecure with himself and his relationship with his wife. He keeps Prudencio's corpse for some reason, and Ursula is hallucinating, thinking that she see's Prudencio at random moments. Jose again is defensive towards Prudencio (this time, his dead body) and tells him to "go to hell." I don't see what he is gaining from threatening a dead man.

Summary
Chapter two is probably highlighted by Jose murdering Prudencio and then the events that follow it. Ursula has hallucinations about Prudencio, and Jose becomes highly annoyed, to the point where Prudencio haunts him as well. People in their town begin to talk behind their backs about their incestuous relationship (Jose and Ursula are cousins), and some even make comments to their faces regarding it. This bothers them, but they love each other so they are able to let it go, for the most part. After the murder, Jose again wants to put the majority of his focus on his scientific studies.

Active Reading: Chapter One

Chapter One: Active Reading

Quotes
"We still have not had a death...A person does not belong to a place until there is someone dead under the ground."
What's going on here is Jose Arcadio Buendia is trying to convince Ursula that they should leave their home. Ursula is very persistant, and this is Jose's defense against her, that sure you may live there, but it truly is not your home until someone passes away and is buried there. Ursula's rebuttal is: "If I have to die for the rest of you to stay here, I will die."
This shows that Ursula feels very strongly about their home and truly wans to stay. At this point, Jose realizes it will be very hard to get to her leave.


Magical Realism
If anything has any magical aspects to them in the first chapter, it would probably be the new technology that Jose Arcadio Buendia is either discovering or inventing. Some have some mystical aspects to them.

Themes
Without even reading the entire novel, it is quite obvious that isolation and conflict will be a major theme throughout this entire book, and in chapter one that statement is supported. Ursula and Jose are arguing on and off, and they are isolated from the every day world due to Jose's "quest for knowledge."

Character Development
We are introduced to Jose Arcadio Buendia and Ursula. We see that they are both somewhat stubborn, but also have certain things that drive them.

Summary
Chapter one gets the readers aquainted with the main characters and overall tone of the book. Jose Arcadio Buendia is obsessed with obtaining more knowledge in the science field, isolating himself in many ways in the process. Ursual is frustrated with him at many points because of his aspirations, and she is more focused on developing Macondo, the town they organized. Jose, however, wants to leave because he's interested in exploring. This is hard to do because Macondo is surrounded by water, so a conflict arises between he and Ursula. Since he realizes there is nothing he can do because his wife won't let him, he continues his studies there on Macondo.