“A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” Reading Questions:
1. Describe the old man who is found on the beach. Include what language he
spoke.
The old man found in the beach is a frail and weak man who looked like a
sailor and he speaks in dialect
2. What does the Old Lady of the village claim the old man is?
The old lady in the village claims that the old man is an angel.
3. What titles or roles do the townspeople assign to the Old Man? What does
this reveal about the kind of people they are?
The titles that the townspeople think that they should assign to the Old Man are a 5star general or the Mayor. This shows that they are respectful people.
4. Father Gonzaga suspects the Old Man is not an angel – why?
He suspected that he wasn’t an angel because he didn’t speak/understand latin.
5. Explain what Father Gonzaga does in order to prove that the Old Man is not
an angel. How is this a criticism of organized religion?
He writes back to Rome; after he doesn't hear back from Rome
6. What does the couple who found the Old Man do to profit from him?
They invite people to come see the angel for a specific price.
7. What types of questions do the people in Rome ask about the Old Man? Do
these questions seem productive? Why?
The types of questions the people in Rome ask about the Old Man is does he have a
Naval. This question is productive because it would prove he is human if he had a
naval.
8. Can the Old Man perform miracles? What is the reaction of the people to
this?
No, the old man can’t perform miracles, so the people don’t believe that the old man
isn’t an angle.
9. Why do Pelayo and Elisenda put up boards on their new home? Is this
absurd? Explain.
They do this to not let angels come in because many people would love to see
angels, it’s absurd because they already have angels.
10. What does Elisenda think is awful about the world? Explain the irony here.
She thinks the world it is a hell full of angels but the irony of that is that she already
has one.
11. What is Marquez’s message of this story?
Marquez’s message of this story is to just explain how hard acceptance is and how
hard it is to accept new things.
12. Answer two of your characterization notes from “Short Story/Novel Notes”
taken last class for the Old Man and Father Gonzaga.
The short story, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings tells the story of
... She tells them that it was on its way for their sick child. ... Father
Gonzaga soon arrives, declaring that the old man is a fake.