Gabriel Garcia Marquez titles his book "Chronicle of a Death Foretold." The wording of this title leaves the reader guessing, as it cab be interpreted as (chronicle of a death) (foretold) or (chronicle of) (a death foretold).
If an event is foretold, it is predicted or known that the event will occur before the event actually happens.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines "chronicle" as "an extended account in prose or verse of historical events...presented in chronological order and without authorial interpretation or comment."
So, if one interprets the title as a (chronicle of a death) (foretold), the title contains no flaw in logic within itsself (Assuming, of course, that it is possible for events to be foretold). The title simply means that the book is a chronicle of a death, and that someone foretold that the book would be written before Marquez wrote it.
If one interprets the title as a (chronicle of) (a death foretold), the title itsself is still logically sound. It means that Marquez has written a chronicle about a death which was foretold.
However, the title is logically flawed in relation to the book because Marquez does not write in chronological order (Perhaps because the death which he writes about is already known, and/or because he writes the book prior to the event's occurrence).
It is also ironic (and perhaps a smidgen logically flawed, if one is cynical) that the book is so popular if one relies on it's title as an indication to what the story contains. Why would one wish to read a story in which the assumed "main event" is already revealed to them in the title? I believe it is because it adds an element of intrigue, which is why Marquez chose it.
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