A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings | Exercise With Summary | Grade 12 | English
0Summary
In a small coastal village, Pelayo and Elisenda discover a mysterious old man with enormous wings in their courtyard. They capture him and display him as an attraction for travelers. The man becomes a symbol of wonder and awe, attracting curious onlookers. However, as time goes on, the old man's presence becomes a source of frustration and annoyance, and Pelayo and Elisenda mistreat him. Finally, one day, the old man miraculously escapes and flies away.
Answers:
a. How does the narrator describe the weather and its effects in the exposition of the story?
The narrator describes the weather as "a wind from the sea" which was increasing steadily, "saturating everything with saltpeter." The weather affects the characters by making them restless and irritable, contributing to the overall sense of unease and discomfort in the story.
b. Describe the strange old man as Palayo and his wife first encounter within their courtyard.
Palayo and Elisenda first encounter the strange old man as a "decrepit and haggard old man" with "enormous wings." He is naked and filthy, and his wings are torn and ragged. He speaks in a language that they do not understand, and he appears to be confused and lost.
c. Why did Pelayo and Elisenda imprison the old man in the chicken coop?
Pelayo and Elisenda imprison the old man in the chicken coop because they believe that he is a dangerous creature who could harm their chickens. They also fear that he will attract unwanted attention to their home.
d. Why was Father Gonzaga not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger?
Father Gonzaga is not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger because he cannot find any evidence to support this claim. He examines the man's wings and finds them to be real, but he can find no other signs that he is a divine being.
e. Many people gathere d at Palayo’s house to see the strange old man. Why do you think the crowd assembled to see him?
The crowd assembled to see the strange old man because they were curious about him and wanted to see him for themselves. They were also drawn to him by the rumors that he was a celestial messenger or a supernatural being.
f. Some miracles happened while the crowd gathers to see the strange man. What are these miracles?
The miracles that happened while the crowd gathered to see the strange man include a blind man regaining his sight, a lame man being able to walk again, and a woman being cured of her leprosy.
g. State the irritating thi ngs that the people did with the strange old man.
The people did many irritating things to the strange old man, such as throwing rocks at him, pulling his wings, and trying to take his picture. They also made fun of him and called him names.
h. How and why was the woman changed into a sp ider?
The woman was changed into a spider because she disobeyed her parents. They had told her not to go to the garden, but she went anyway. When they found out, they cursed her, and she turned into a spider.
i. Describe how Elisend a saw the strange man flying over the houses.
Elisenda saw the strange man flying over the houses as she was hanging the laundry. She saw him as a tiny figure in the distance, his wings beating slowly and powerfully. He flew over the houses until he reached the edge of the sea, where he landed and disappeared.
a. The arrival of a strange old man at Palayo’ s courtyard arouses many suspicions and explanations. Explain how the neighbour woman, Father Gonzaga and the doctor speak of the strange man. Why do you think these three people give three different kinds of interpretations?
The neighbor woman believes that the strange old man is an angel, Father Gonzaga believes that he is a devil, and the doctor believes that he is a mentally ill man. These three people give three different interpretations of the strange old man because they have different perspectives and beliefs. The neighbor woman is a devout Catholic who is quick to believe in miracles, while Father Gonzaga is a cautious and rational man who is skeptical of anything that cannot be explained by science. The doctor is a practical man who is more interested in treating the old man's physical illness than in his spiritual or supernatural nature.
b. This story belongs to the genre of ‘magical realism’, a genre perfected by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his novels and short stories. Magical realism is a narrative technique in which the story-teller narrates the common place things with magical colour and the events look both magical and real at the same time. Collect five magic realist happenings from the story and argue why they seem magical to you.
- A man with enormous wings appears in a small coastal village.
- The old man speaks in a language that no one understands.
- The old man heals the sick and injured with his touch.
- A woman is turned into a spider for disobeying her parents.
- The old man flies away on his own accord after being imprisoned for several months.
These events are magical because they are impossible or unlikely to happen in real life. The fact that they are presented in a matter-of-fact way, without any explanation or comment from the narrator, makes them seem even more magical and mysterious.
c. The author introduce s the episode of a woman who became a spider for having disobeyed her parents. This episode at once shifts people’s concentration from the strange old man to the spider woman. What do you think is the purpose of the author to bring this shift in the story?
The purpose of the author to bring this shift in the story is to show that the strange old man is not the only one who is capable of performing miracles. The spider woman is also a miraculous figure, and her story is just as compelling as the old man's. This shift in focus helps to create a sense of balance and symmetry in the story, and it also shows that even the most ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.
d. The story deals with the common people’s gullibility. How do Palayo and his wife take advantage of common people’s whim?
Palayo and his wife take advantage of the common people's gullibility by charging them money to see the strange old man. They also sell souvenirs and other merchandise related to the old man, and they even stage a lottery in which the winner gets to spend a night in the chicken coop with the old man. Palayo and his wife are able to make a lot of money from these ventures because the common people are so eager to see the old man and to believe in his powers.
a. An irresistible crowd queues at Palayo’s house for many days simply to look at the strange old man. Narrate an episode from your experience or from another story where people assemble in crowds, not for any noble cause.
(This question is subjective and requires personal experience or knowledge of other stories to answer.)
b. The taste of children is different from grown-ups. What are the elements in the story that make ‘ The Old Man with Enormous Wings’ a children’s story?
(This question is debatable, as the story can be interpreted in different ways. Some possible elements that could make it appealing to children include the magical realism, the sense of wonder and mystery, and the simple and straightforward language.)