Themes and Characters in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings'

In a small town, Pelayo and Elisenda discover an old man with enormous wings in their courtyard. Initially thought to be a castaway, a neighbor identifies him as an angel. The community becomes fascinated, leading to exploitation and a series of bizarre miracles. The arrival of a spider woman diverts attention, and the angel eventually regains strength and flies away, leaving the town changed.

What was the initial cause of concern for Pelayo and Elisenda?

• The rain

• The neighbor's gossip

• The child's fever

• The old man's presence

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

• They immediately helped him

• They looked at him with mute stupor

• They called the authorities

• They were frightened and ran away

What did the neighbor woman claim about the old man?

• He was an angel

• He was a sailor

• He was a thief

• He was a castaway

What was Father Gonzaga's initial suspicion about the old man?

• He was a demon

• He was an imposter

• He was a saint

• He was a magician

How did the community react to the presence of the angel?

• They feared him

• They ignored him

• They worshipped him

• They treated him like a circus animal

What event shifted the town's attention away from the angel?

• A storm hit the town

• The arrival of the spider woman

• The angel performed miracles

• A new angel arrived

What did Pelayo and Elisenda do with the money they earned?

• They donated it

• They built a mansion

• They left the town

• They invested in a business

What happened to the angel at the end of the story?

• He was captured

• He became human

• He flew away

• He died