Themes and Characters in 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings'

The story 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez explores human reactions to the unusual and different. When a couple, Paleo and Elisenda, discover an old man with wings, they and their community react with curiosity, greed, and cruelty. The old man is treated as a spectacle, exploited for profit, and eventually overshadowed by a carnival attraction. Despite his mistreatment, the old man recovers and flies away, leaving the couple relieved.

What genre does 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings' belong to?

• Science Fiction

• Historical Fiction

• Mystery

• Magical Realism

What do Pelayo and Elisenda initially think is causing their child's illness?

• A bad storm

• A curse from a neighbor

• The stench from the crabs

• The old man with wings

How do Pelayo and Elisenda first react to the old man with wings?

• They ignore him

• They immediately call the authorities

• They are frightened and confused

• They welcome him warmly

What does the neighboring woman claim about the old man?

• He is a lost sailor

• He is a demon

• He is an angel

• He is a magician

What is Father Gonzaga's conclusion about the old man?

• He is a saint

• He is a fraud

• He is a human with wings

• He is definitely an angel

How do the villagers treat the old man?

• Like a circus animal

• With fear and avoidance

• As a wise sage

• With respect and reverence

What new attraction diverts the villagers' attention from the old man?

• A talking parrot

• A woman turned into a spider

• A magical tree

• A giant snake

What do Pelayo and Elisenda do with the money they earn from the old man's presence?

• They travel the world

• They donate it to charity

• They invest in a business

• They build a two-storied mansion

What happens to the old man as he becomes ill?

• He loses his wings

• He becomes more human

• He gains magical powers

• His feathers begin to grow back

What is Elisenda's reaction when the old man finally flies away?

• She is indifferent

• She is sad and misses him

• She is relieved for both herself and him

• She is angry and frustrated