Genre

Magical realism

Point of View

The point of view switches between the first person of Esteban and a third person omniscient narrator who turns out to be Alba

Tone

Calm and dispassionate, even while presenting extremely violent, passionate, and unbelievable events (characteristic of magical realism)

Tense

Past and future

Setting

Tres Marias and the capital of an unspecified Latin American country, during the 20th century

Climax

None, although there are many moments which appear to be a climax, notably each birth and each death

Falling Action

Chapter fourteen, The Terror, when Alba is abducted by Esteban Garcia, and Esteban Trueba realizes how much damage he has caused