A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings - Study Guide
By Gabriel García Márquez
About the Author
Gabriel García Márquez (1927-2014)
- Colombian novelist and one of the greatest writers of the 20th century
- Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982
- Master of Magical Realism genre
- Notable works include:
Love in the Time of Cholera,
No One Writes to the Colonel,
One Hundred Years of Solitude,
- One of the most celebrated Latin American writers of our time
Story Summary
The story tells of a mysterious old man with enormous wings who falls into Pelayo and Elisenda's courtyard during a storm. Initially frightened, the couple eventually imprisons him and charges admission for people to see this "angel." The story explores themes of human nature, compassion, and how society treats the different and vulnerable.
Pre-Reading Questions & Discussion
What do you think 'sun' and 'shadow' mean in the context?
- 'Sun' represents good times, happiness, hope, and positive experiences
- 'Shadow' represents difficult times, challenges, suffering, and negative experiences
What does the 'night' represent?
- 'Night' represents the darkest, most difficult periods in life
- It symbolizes times of despair, confusion, or hardship that we must understand and accept
How are good times and bad times related to each other?
- Good and bad times are interconnected parts of life's experience
- We can't fully appreciate light without experiencing darkness
- Difficult times often lead to growth, wisdom, and greater appreciation for good times
- Both are essential for a complete understanding of life
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Reading Comprehension Questions & Answers
While We Read Questions:
a. Why does the sight of the old man frighten Pelayo?
- The old man appeared strange and otherworldly with his enormous wings
- He was groaning and unable to get up, creating an eerie atmosphere
- His unusual appearance was shocking and unexpected
b. Why was the old man unable to get up?
- His enormous wings were impeding his movement
- The wings were entangled in the mud
- He appeared weak and exhausted from the storm
c. The couple consider the old man a 'lonely castaway'. Why?
- He spoke in an incomprehensible dialect with a sailor's voice
- They assumed he was from a foreign ship wrecked by the storm
- His appearance and condition suggested he was lost and alone
d. Why was the neighbour woman sure that the old man was an angel?
- She immediately recognized his wings as angelic
- She believed he had come for their sick child
- Her religious faith made her interpret his appearance as divine
e. Why did Pelayo arm himself with a club?
- He was uncertain about the old man's nature and intentions
- He wanted to protect his family from potential danger
- Fear of the unknown made him take precautionary measures
f. What made the couple suddenly decide to treat the man with some 'kindness'?
- Their child recovered from fever and regained appetite
- They felt magnanimous (generous) after this good fortune
- They attributed their child's recovery to the angel's presence
g. Why does Pelayo lock the old man in the chicken coop?
- To keep him contained and under control
- To prevent him from escaping
- To treat him more like a captured animal than a divine being
h. Why do the people treat the old man like a 'circus animal'?
- They were curious and entertained by his unusual appearance
- They lacked reverence for what they believed was a supernatural being
- Human nature tends to exploit and entertainment from the different
i. Do you think Elisenda is shrewd and clever? Why?
- Yes, she quickly monetized the situation by charging admission
- She recognized the business opportunity the angel presented
- Her practical approach helped the family become wealthy
j. 'His only supernatural virtue seemed to be patience.' Why does the author say so?
- The angel endured all mistreatment without retaliation
- He remained calm despite being poked, prodded, and abused
- His patience was extraordinary and seemed divine in nature
k. Why do more people flock to see the woman rather than the old man?
- The spider-woman could communicate and answer questions
- Her story was more understandable and relatable
- The admission fee was cheaper
- People preferred spectacles they could interact with
l. Why is the doctor surprised by the 'logic' of the wings?
- The wings seemed perfectly natural on the human body
- They appeared to be an integral part of his anatomy
- The doctor couldn't understand why all humans didn't have wings
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Analysis Questions & Answers
1. What is the old man's role in the story? How does his presence affect Pelayo's family?
Role: The old man serves as a catalyst for revealing human nature and society's treatment of the different and vulnerable.
Effects on the family:
- Brings them unexpected wealth through admission fees
- Tests their compassion and humanity
- Changes their social status from poor to wealthy
- Eventually becomes a burden they're relieved to see leave
2. Mention any two traits of the old man that impress you.
- Patience: He endures all mistreatment without complaint or retaliation
- Resilience: Despite abuse and neglect, he survives and eventually regains strength to fly away
3. What elements of the story do you consider magical? Why?
- The winged old man: A human with enormous wings defies natural laws
- Silent healing: The child's recovery coincides with the angel's arrival
- Supernatural endurance: The old man survives extreme mistreatment
- Flight: His eventual ability to fly away confirms his otherworldly nature
4. Describe the old man's first clumsy attempts at flight.
- His movements were awkward and unsteady
- He nearly knocked down the shed while trying to get airborne
- He couldn't get a proper grip on the air initially
- His flight resembled "the risky flapping of a senile vulture"
- Despite the clumsiness, he eventually gained altitude and flew away
5. What happens to the old man's popularity in the course of time?
- Initial phase: Great excitement and crowds of visitors
- Peak popularity: Long lines of pilgrims, significant income for the family
- Decline: People lose interest when the spider-woman arrives
- Final phase: He becomes largely ignored, treated as a nuisance
- End: Relief when he finally flies away
6. Literary Elements from the Story:
Imagery:
- "enormous wings"
- "dirty and half-plucked wings"
- "wings entangled in the mud"
- "large, stiff feathers like a scarecrow"
Simile:
- "like a ragpicker"
- "like a circus animal"
- "like a stray dying man"
- "risky flapping of a senile vulture"
Magical Elements:
- Wings on a human being
- Supernatural patience and endurance
- Mysterious healing powers
- Ability to fly
7. Alternative Endings Discussion Points:
Students can explore various endings such as:
- The old man revealing his true divine nature
- The family experiencing consequences for their treatment
- The old man returning to help them in crisis
- A revelation about his true purpose
8. Who suffers the most in the story? What does the story tell us about compassion?
Who suffers most: The old man suffers the most through physical abuse, exploitation, and dehumanization.
Message about compassion:
- The story reveals how society often fails to show compassion to the vulnerable
- It criticizes human tendency to exploit rather than help those who are different
- True compassion requires seeing the humanity in others, regardless of their appearance
- Small acts of kindness can have profound impact, but they are often rare
Key Themes
- Human Nature and Cruelty: How people treat those who are different
- Exploitation: Using others for personal gain
- Faith vs. Skepticism: Different reactions to the miraculous
- Compassion and Indifference: The lack of genuine care for the vulnerable
- Appearance vs. Reality: Judging based on surface appearances
About Magical Realism
Magical realism is a literary genre that:
- Depicts the real world with an undercurrent of magic or fantasy
- Blurs the line between fantasy and reality
- Presents extraordinary events as ordinary occurrences
- Is particularly associated with Latin American literature
- Other notable practitioners include Salman Rushdie and Angela Carter
Discussion Questions for Further Thought
- What does the 'sun' and 'shadow' metaphor suggest about life's experiences?
- How does the story reflect real-world treatment of refugees or marginalized people?
- What role does religious faith play in the characters' reactions?
- How does the ending reflect the theme of human indifference?
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