by: Garcia Marquez

1. “A Very Old Man With
Enormous Wings”
by: Squad

2. Summary
Husband and wife Pelayo and Elisenda found a man with enormous wings
outside their house. They think he was a homeless man, people in their town
think he is a fallen angel. The priest thinks that he could be a figure from the
devil. The man with wings stay in Pelayo’s chicken coop. People come from all
over to see him and want him to do some miracle since they think he is an
angel. As years pass, people eventually forget about the winged man. The very
old man stays in the coop as the years pass. After about five years, the winged
man flies over Pelayo’s house.

3. Plot
The town takes an interest in this old man with enormous wings, seems like
the inciting incident is him showing up.
The main conflicts in the story surround people arguing about what he is/his
motives in the town
Expect something big to happen with the old man…. But nothing really does

4. Narration
Third person.
Narrated in past tense “He watched over him” “Father Gonzaga arrived
before seven o’clock,”
Not a lot of elaborate description but there is a little sarcastic tone within the
language.
No indication that the narrator is a character and does not show opinion

5. Character Analysis
The protagonist is the angel.
mysterious, winged, and doesn’t ever speak in a known language.
Pelayo is another main character. He is the narrator of the story as well.
The minor characters are Pelayo’s wife Elisenda, and their baby, Father
Gonzaga, and the lady that turned into a spider.
Pelayo is telling the story from his point of view. The baby starts off as
the main topic because it was sick and quickly gets forgotten.

6. Setting
● Temporal Setting: “In those times” 1930’s/1940’s
● Geographical Setting:Pelayo and Elisenda’s courtyard
● How do we know?
○ Spanish country because of names
○ Small town
○ Strongly ruled by catholicism and popular mythology
● Importance
● Would a different setting change the story?

7. Symbolism
Wings are something that hold some sort of symbolic value in the story
There are some contrasts with the angel, using everyday objects and comparing
the beauty and ugliness in everyday life.
“..which brought on a whirlwind of chicken dung and lunar dust..”
The writer wants the reader to see the beauty in everyday things, the angel might
not look like he should, however he can still be something special, even if the
town doesn’t think so.

8. Theme
The supernatural
The word “supernatural” is used twice
Town is described as religious
Title saying “wings” means that supernatural might be a theme
“The angel was no less standoffish with him than with the other mortals.”
Compassion
Pelayo and Elisenda take him in
The town threw stones at him, called him names, plucked his feathers, and
branded him with hot iron.
As time goes on, they feel more sympathy for the man and less fear