2. What character does the narrator describe in Part One, Chapter 5 as a “half-breed” with “slanted Japanese eyes, thick Negro lips, copper-colored Indian skin, high cheekbones, lank black hair”?

3. Who answers the door at Teresa’s neighbor’s house when she goes to take a bath there before her date in Part One, Chapter 4?

4. The narrator of Part One, Chapter 5 says that “Tere went to have lunch on weekdays with some relatives who lived near her school” where?

5. Who is giving Alberto a dance lesson in Part One, Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the character of Alberto described in Part One, Chapter 1? What is Alberto’s nickname within the Circle?

2. What is the task that Cava is enlisted to perform in Part One, Chapter 1?

3. Describe the scene that opens Part One, Chapter 1 of the novel. Where are the main characters located, and what are they doing?

4. How does Lt. Huarina utilize the information given to him by the Slave in Part One?

5. How is the “military spirit” defined by Capt. Garrido in Part One, Chapter 2?

6. What contribution does Vallano make to the culture of the Fifth Years in Part One, Chapter 6?

7. How is the theme of secrecy elicited symbolically in Part One, Chapter 3?

8. To whom does the Slave go to speak in Part One, Chapter 6? Why?

9. How is the character of Lt. Gamboa depicted in the novel? What does Gamboa represent metaphorically in the story?

10. How do the Slave and the Poet differ in their relationship to manhood in the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the setting of The Time of the Hero. What clues indicate the time period in which the story takes place? What is the political and social status of Peru like during this time period? How is this seen in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Gender Roles in The Time of the Hero

a. Discuss the definitions of masculinity and femininity in the novel. How do these concepts differ? How are they alike?

b. What role does gender expectation play in the actions of the main characters in the novel? Which characters act based on societal concepts of gender expectation?