Summary
Gabriel García Márquez’s A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings is a magical story about a mysterious old man who suddenly appears in a small village. He has large, ragged wings but does not look powerful or heavenly—just tired and weak.
Pelayo, a villager, finds the old man in his yard and, unsure of what to do, locks him in a chicken coop. The townspeople come to see him, thinking he might be an angel. Some are curious, others are cruel, and they treat him poorly. Instead of being amazed by his wings, they laugh at him and poke fun. Over time, the old man stays silent and endures their mistreatment. Eventually, his wings grow stronger, and one day, he flies away, leaving the village behind. His mysterious presence makes the villagers question faith, kindness, and how people treat things they do not understand.
The story blends reality with fantasy, showing how humans react to the unknown. It’s a powerful tale about compassion and ignorance, told in Márquez’s unique style of magical realism.
Malayalam Summary
ഒരു രാത്രി വൈകി വീട്ടിലേക്കു നടന്നുവരുമ്പോൾ പെലായോ ഒരു കാഴ്ച കണ്ടു. അയാളുടെ വീട്ടുമുറ്റത്ത് ഒരു വൃദ്ധൻ വീണുകിടക്കുന്നു. അടുത്തുചെന്നു നോക്കിയപ്പോൾ ആ വൃദ്ധന് ചിറകുകൾ ഉണ്ടെന്നു കണ്ട് പെലായോ അത്ഭുതപ്പെട്ടു. വൃദ്ധൻ എത്രയൊക്കെ ശ്രമിച്ചിട്ടും അയാൾക്ക് എണീറ്റ് നിൽക്കാൻ സാധിച്ചില്ല. അയാളുടെ ചിറകിന് അത്രക്ക് ഭാരമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. പേടിച്ചു പോയ പെലായോ ഭാര്യ എലിസെൻഡയുടെ അടുത്തേക്ക് ഓടി. അവരുടെ കുട്ടിക്ക് അസുഖം ആയതിനാൽ അവൾ അവനെ ശുശ്രൂഷിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. പെലായോ ഭാര്യയെ കൂട്ടിക്കൊണ്ട് വൃദ്ധൻ കിടന്ന ഭാഗത്തേക്ക് പോയി അയാളെ കാണിച്ചു കൊടുത്തു. രണ്ടുപേരും അടുത്തുചെന്നു അയാളെ സൂക്ഷ്മമായി നിരീക്ഷിച്ചു.
വസ്ത്രധാരണം കൊണ്ട് വൃദ്ധൻ പഴയ സാധനങ്ങൾ പെറുക്കി വിൽക്കുന്ന ആളെപോലെ ആയിരുന്നു. തലയിൽ മുടികൾ തീരെയില്ലാത്ത, വായിൽ പല്ലുകളും ഇല്ലാത്ത, നനഞ്ഞുകുതിർന്ന ഒരു മുതുമുത്തച്ഛൻ! ഇങ്ങനെയൊരു അവസ്ഥയിൽ അയാൾ പണ്ടെങ്ങോ വലിയൊരു ആളായിരുന്നു എന്ന് ചിന്തിക്കാൻ പോലും സാധിക്കുമായിരുന്നില്ല. തൂവലുകൾ അല്പം മാത്രം ശേഷിച്ച അയാളുടെ വലിയ ചിറകുകൾ ചെളിയിൽ കെട്ടുപിണഞ്ഞു പോയിരുന്നു.
പെലായോയും ഭാര്യയും ആദ്യം കുറച്ചുനേരം ആ വൃദ്ധനെ അത്ഭുതത്തോടെ നോക്കി നിന്നെങ്കിലും കുറേകഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ അവർക്ക് തോന്നിയ അത്ഭുതം ഇല്ലാതെയായി. അവർക്ക് അയാളൊരു സാധാരണ മനുഷ്യനായി തോന്നി. ധൈര്യസമേതം അവർ അയാളോട് സംസാരിച്ചു. ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ ചോദിച്ചു. എവിടെനിന്ന് വരുന്നു, ആരാണ് നിങ്ങൾ? വൃദ്ധൻ ഉത്തരം പറഞ്ഞു പക്ഷെ അയാളുടെ ഭാഷ അവർക്ക് മനസ്സിലായില്ല.
വൃദ്ധനെ ഒരു വഞ്ചിയിൽ കയറ്റി ദൂരേക്ക്‌ പറഞ്ഞുവിടാൻ ആദ്യം തീരുമാനിച്ചെങ്കിലും, അവർ അയാളെ അവരുടെ കോഴിക്കൂട്ടിൽ കയറ്റി വാതിൽ അടക്കുന്നു. പെട്ടെന്നാണ് അസുഖം ബാധിച്ചുകിടന്ന അവരുടെ കുട്ടി സുഖപ്പെടുന്നത്. ഈ വൃദ്ധൻ ദൈവത്തിൻ്റെ മാലാഖയാണെന്ന് നാട്ടിലെല്ലാം ഒരു സംസാരം പടർന്നു. അയാളെ കാണാനും സുഖം പ്രാപിക്കാനുമായി ദൂരേനാടുകളിൽനിന്നും ആളുകൾ വന്നുതുടങ്ങി. അവർ അയാൾക്ക് ഭക്ഷണം എറിഞ്ഞുകൊടുക്കുകയും രോഗശാന്തിക്കുവേണ്ടി അയാളുടെ ശേഷിച്ച തൂവലുകൾ പറിച്ചെടുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.
ഇതിനുശേഷം നടക്കുന്ന സംഭവങ്ങളാണ് ഈ കഥയിൽ നിങ്ങൾ വായിക്കാൻ പോകുന്നത്. മനുഷ്യൻ തൻ്റെ സ്വാർത്ഥതക്കുവേണ്ടി എന്തും ചെയ്യും എന്ന സന്ദേശമാണ് ഈ കഥ നമുക്ക് നൽകുന്നത്.
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അപ്പോഴേ, പറഞ്ഞില്ലെന്നു പറയരുത് – ഇനിയങ്ങോട്ട് കാണാപ്പാഠം പഠിച്ച് പരീക്ഷ ജയിക്കലൊന്നും നടക്കില്ല: കാരണം, പരീക്ഷകളൊക്കെ അടിമുടി മാറി.
സ്വന്തമായി ഉത്തരങ്ങൾ എഴുതാനും പരീക്ഷകളിൽ മിനിമം 98% മാർക്ക് വാങ്ങാനും “എൻ്റെ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ്” പ്രോഗ്രാമിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കുക. ഒരു വർഷത്തേക്ക് 300 രൂപ മാത്രം. 10 ക്ലാസുകൾ ഫ്രീ ആയി കൂടാൻ ഇപ്പോൾ തന്നെ ഈ ഗ്രൂപ്പിൽ ചേർന്ന്‌ വൈകിട്ട് 06:30 മണിയുടെ ക്ലാസുകൾ കൂടുക. കാണാപാഠം പഠിക്കാൻ താഴേക്ക് സ്ക്രോൾ ചെയ്യുക. അടുത്ത ചാപ്റ്റർ പഠിക്കാൻ ഇവിടെ അമർത്തുക.
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Notes:
- Pelayo finds an old man with wings in his courtyard. The man is weak, dirty, and stuck in the mud.
- Pelayo calls his wife, Elisenda, to see him. A neighbor says he is an angel.
- They lock him in the chicken coop. Their sick child suddenly gets better.
- People come from far away to see the angel. They throw food at him and pluck his feathers.
- Pelayo and Elisenda start charging money to see him.
- They become very rich. The angel does not fight back or speak clearly.
- A woman who turned into a spider comes to town.
- People like her more than the angel. The angel is forgotten and ignored.
- His coop becomes old and smelly. He grows weaker and can barely move.
- Pelayo lets him sleep in the shed.
- He survives a hard winter. In summer, new feathers grow on his wings.
- He slowly gets stronger. Elisenda sees him trying to fly.
- He struggles but finally lifts off. He flies higher and higher.
- Elisenda watches him until he is very far away. She feels relieved that he is gone.
- Pelayo and Elisenda continue their rich life.
- The town forgets about the angel. The angel disappears over the sea.
- No one knows where he went. Life goes back to normal for everyone.
Questions with Short Answers
- What did Pelayo see in the courtyard?
Pelayo saw an old man with big wings in the courtyard. - Where was the old man lying?
The old man was lying in the mud. - Why couldn’t the old man get up?
The old man couldn’t get up because his wings were too big. - Who did Pelayo call?
Pelayo called his wife, Elisenda. - What was Elisenda doing before she saw the old man?
Elisenda was putting medicine on their sick child. - What did the old man look like?
The old man looked tired, dirty, and weak. - How did the old man speak?
The old man spoke in a strange language. - What did the neighbor say about the old man?
The neighbor said that the old man was an angel. - Where did Pelayo put the angel?
Pelayo put the angel in the chicken coop. - What happened to Pelayo’s child?
Pelayo’s child got better and wanted to eat. - How did people treat the angel?
People treated the angel like a circus animal. - Did the angel fight back?
No, the angel was very patient. - What did Pelayo and Elisenda do with the money?
Pelayo and Elisenda built a big house with the money. - What happened to the chicken coop?
The chicken coop became old and dirty. - Who played in the chicken coop?
Pelayo’s child played in the chicken coop. - What did the doctor hear in the angel’s heart?
The doctor heard strange sounds in the angel’s heart. - What happened to the angel’s wings?
The angel’s wings grew new feathers. - Did the angel get better?
Yes, the angel slowly got better. - What did Elisenda see one morning?
Elisenda saw the angel trying to fly. - Where did the angel go?
The angel flew away over the sea.
Ente English
നല്ല ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് ഭാഷ ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ മാത്രമേ നല്ല ഉത്തരങ്ങൾ എഴുതാൻ നിങ്ങൾക്ക് സാധിക്കൂ. കാണാപ്പാഠം പഠിക്കുന്ന കുറുക്കുവഴി ഒരിക്കലും ശീലിക്കാതിരിക്കുക. നല്ല ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് പഠിക്കാൻ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് ക്രഷ് ക്ലാസ്സുകളിൽ കുറഞ്ഞത് ആറുമാസം എങ്കിലും പങ്കെടുക്കുക. Join our Group for More Free Chapters, Live Classes and English Crush Programs.
Text Book Questions
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What is the old man’s role and his effect on Pelayo’s family?
ആദ്യം തന്നെ, ചോദ്യം എന്താണെന്നും നമുക്ക് അതിൻ്റെ ഉത്തരം എത്രമാത്രം അറിയാമെന്നും നോക്കാം. കഥയിൽ വൃദ്ധൻ്റെ റോൾ എന്താണെന്നും അതുപോലെ അയാൾ പെലായോയുടെ കുടുംബത്തിൻ്റെ മേൽ ഉണ്ടാക്കിയ മാറ്റങ്ങളും ആണ് ഈ ഉത്തരത്തിൽ എഴുതേണ്ടത്. ആദ്യം റോൾ എഴുതണം, പിന്നെ ആ കുടുംബത്തിലെ മൂന്നുപേരുടെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ വന്ന മാറ്റങ്ങളും എഴുതണം. ഒന്നും വിട്ടുപോകരുത്.
Answer
The old man is a mysterious figure who changes Pelayo’s family life. At first, he looks weak, dirty, and unusual with his large wings. Pelayo and his wife, Elisenda, are confused and afraid. But when people believe he is an angel, they start charging visitors to see him. This brings them a lot of money, and they build a big house. However, they never treat the old man well. He stays in a dirty chicken coop, and they ignore his suffering. Over time, his presence becomes less important to them. When he finally flies away, Elisenda feels relief, not sadness. This shows that they only cared about his ability to make money, not about him as a person.
- Mysterious figure – നിഗൂഢമായ രൂപം.
- They start charging visitors – അവർ സന്ദർശകരിൽ നിന്നും ഫീസ് വാങ്ങാൻ തുടങ്ങി.
- This brings them a lot of money – ഇതുമൂലം അവർ ധാരാളം പണം സമ്പാദിച്ചു.
- However – എന്നിട്ടും.
- They never treat the old man well – അവർ വൃദ്ധനോട് നല്ലരീതിയിൽ പെരുമാറിയില്ല.
- He stays in a dirty chicken coop – അയാളെ അവർ ആ വൃത്തികെട്ട കോഴിക്കൂട്ടിൽ തന്നെ ഇട്ടു.
- And they ignore his suffering – അയാളുടെ സഹനം അവർ കണ്ടില്ലെന്നു നടിച്ചു.
- Relief, not sadness – ആശ്വാസം ആയിരുന്നു തോന്നിയത്, വിഷമം അല്ലായിരുന്നു.
- This shows that they only cared about his ability to make money – ഇതിൽ നിന്നും മനസ്സിലാകുന്നത് അവർക്ക് അയാൾ മൂലം ലഭിച്ച പണമായിരുന്നു പ്രധാനം.
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Discuss two impressive traits of the old man.
One impressive trait is his great patience. He never fights back when people treat him badly. They pull his feathers, throw food at him, and keep him locked up, but he remains calm. Another trait is his humility. He does not act important or powerful, even though he has wings and might be an angel. He accepts his situation quietly, showing a peaceful nature instead of anger or pride.
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What are the magical elements in the story?
The story mixes real-life events with magical elements. The old man’s wings are the biggest mystery. He looks human but has feathers like a bird, making people believe he is supernatural. Another magical element is the woman who turns into a spider. She says she was punished by lightning, which seems impossible but is accepted by the people in town. The old man’s supernatural strength is also magical. He survives harsh treatment, sickness, and the cold winter without dying. He grows new feathers and slowly regains his power to fly, making him seem more than human.
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Write a note on the old man’s attempts at flight.
After suffering for a long time, the old man slowly regains his strength. He tries to fly but struggles. His wings flap awkwardly, and he bumps into things like a sick bird. He almost knocks down a shed while trying to lift off the ground. Instead of flying like an angel, he moves like an old, tired vulture. Elisenda watches as he rises higher, little by little. His flight is not beautiful, but it finally allows him to escape. As he disappears in the distance, she feels relieved that he is no longer her problem.
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How do you see the old man’s changing popularity?
At first, the villagers are excited about the old man. They believe he is an angel and visit him, hoping for miracles. Pelayo and Elisenda make money from his fame. Later, interest in him fades when the spider-woman arrives. She explains her strange condition, and people find her story more entertaining. They forget about the old man and stop visiting him. As time passes, he becomes weaker, and even Pelayo and Elisenda ignore him. By the time he flies away, no one really cares anymore. Elisenda watches him leave but feels no sadness, only relief. His popularity was temporary, and once it was gone, he was treated as unimportant.
Special Questions
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Who suffers the most in the story? What does the story tell us about the need for compassion?
The old man suffers the most. People treat him badly from the start. He is weak, dirty, and trapped in a chicken coop. Villagers laugh at him, pull his feathers, and throw things at him. No one helps him, even though he is sick and starving. Pelayo and Elisenda make money from him but never show kindness. He patiently endures everything until he finally flies away, escaping his suffering. The story shows how people can be selfish and unkind. Instead of helping the old man, they use him for their own benefit. They care more about money than about kindness. Even those who need help treat him as an object. This reminds us that real compassion means respecting others and caring for them, no matter who they are. Helping people in need makes the world a better place.
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How does Pelayo treat the old man? Why?
At first, Pelayo is shocked and fearful when he finds the old man lying in the mud. He watches over him with a club, unsure of what to do. Later, he locks him in the chicken coop and ignores his suffering. When people flock to see the old man, he and Elisenda take advantage of the situation, charging visitors and earning money. Over time, he stops caring about the old man entirely, focusing on his new, comfortable life. Pelayo sees the old man as something strange and possibly dangerous. He treats him with caution at first, but once he realizes the old man will not harm them, he exploits him for profit. He never considers showing kindness and, once the money comes in, he becomes indifferent.
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How does Elisenda treat the old man?
Elisenda dislikes the old man from the start. She sees him as an inconvenience, especially when crowds fill their courtyard to see him. Instead of feeling sympathy, she wishes he would leave. She supports charging people for admission and enjoys the wealth he brings them. When he finally flies away, she feels relief rather than sadness. Elisenda values comfort and wealth. She sees the old man as a nuisance rather than a suffering being. Even though he is the reason for her improved life, she never treats him with kindness or gratitude.
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How does the neighbor woman treat the old man?
The neighbor woman looks at the old man and immediately decides he is an angel. She offers no help but warns Pelayo and Elisenda that he came for their sick child. She believes in superstition and assumes that angels come to take the souls of the dying. However, she does nothing to prove her claim or help the old man. Her words only add to the confusion surrounding him.
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How do the neighbors treat the old man?
The villagers treat the old man as an attraction rather than a person. They throw food at him, pull his feathers, and even try to make him stand. Many believe he can perform miracles and try to get him to heal their illnesses. When he does not perform any supernatural feats, they lose interest and move on to the next spectacle—the spider-woman. They are driven by curiosity and selfish desires. At first, they think he is special, but when they realize he will not grant miracles or respond to them, they forget about him.
Figures of Speech
Imagery
- “Buzzard wings” – Suggests the old man’s frail, dirty wings.
- “Marketplace bustle” – Describes the noisy, chaotic crowd around him.
- “Senile vulture” – Compares his flight to that of an old, weak bird.
- “Drenched grandfather” – Highlights his pitiful, soaked condition.
- “Mud entangled” – Shows his struggle as his wings get stuck in the ground.
Simile (With “as” or “like”)
- “His huge buzzard wings, dirty and half-plucked, were entangled in the mud like discarded feathers.”
- “He was holding himself up in some way with the risky flapping of a senile vulture, as if struggling against gravity.”
- “The courtyard had the bustle of a marketplace, like a carnival where people came to stare.”
- “The old man’s attempts at flight were as clumsy as a newborn bird learning to fly.”
- “He lay face down in the mud, like a fallen warrior too weak to rise.”
Metaphors (Without “as” or “like”.)
- “His wings were broken remnants of forgotten grandeur.”
- “The chicken coop was a prison where he was left to rot.”
- “The crowd was a hungry beast, eager for entertainment.”
- “His patience was an unyielding fortress against cruelty.”
- “The angel became a forgotten relic, abandoned by time.”
Personification (Giving human traits to non-human characters).
- “The wind whispered through the courtyard, carrying the murmurs of curious villagers.”
- “The house sighed under the weight of its new wealth.”
- “The angel’s wings refused to obey, dragging him down instead of lifting him up.”
- “The ocean waited for the raft that never came.”
- “The sun watched as the old man struggled, offering him no mercy.”
Additional Questions
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Describe the initial reaction of Pelayo and Elisenda upon discovering the old man. How does their perception change over time?
At first, Pelayo and Elisenda are startled and confused when they discover the old man lying in the mud with enormous wings. His frail appearance makes them doubt any supernatural qualities, reducing him to a mere nuisance. Over time, they grow accustomed to his presence and begin exploiting him for financial gain, charging admission from curious visitors. Eventually, his condition deteriorates, and he becomes an ignored part of their household until he finally recovers enough to fly away. Their perception shifts from fear to acceptance, then to indifference.
Startled: Shocked | Frail: Weak | Mere: Unimportant | Nuisance: A disturbance | Grow accustomed: Feel familiar | Exploit: Miss use | Financial gain: For making money | Eventually: At the end | Deteriorate: Become bad / worsen | Perception: Understanding | Shifts: Changes | Indifference: Hatred -
Analyze the significance of the neighbor woman’s declaration that the old man is an angel. How does it influence the villagers’ treatment of him?
The neighbor woman’s statement that the old man is an angel changes how the community interacts with him. Instead of showing reverence, the villagers treat him as a spectacle, expecting miracles and engaging with him as if he were an attraction. Their fascination turns into cruelty, as they pluck his feathers, throw food at him, and subject him to ridicule. Rather than treating him with dignity, they exploit his presence for entertainment, reflecting society’s tendency to commodify the extraordinary rather than offer kindness.
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Compare and contrast the treatment of the old man with wings and the woman who was transformed into a spider.
Both the old man and the spider-woman are treated as spectacles, but their reception differs greatly. While people come from far and wide to see the angel, they eventually lose interest in him because he does not perform miracles. On the other hand, the spider-woman captivates audiences with her ability to explain her condition, making her suffering more relatable to the villagers. The contrast reveals human nature—people are drawn to extraordinary stories, but their interest wanes when those stories do not entertain them or meet their expectations.
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What is the significance of the doctor’s observation about the logic of the angel’s wings?
The doctor’s remark that the angel’s wings seem natural on his body questions why others do not have them. This moment suggests a deeper philosophical reflection on human nature and transformation. It hints that the extraordinary could coexist with the ordinary if people viewed the world differently. The doctor’s observation contrasts with the villagers’ lack of curiosity, showing that deeper understanding requires seeing beyond surface appearances.
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How does Gabriel García Márquez use magical realism in the story? Provide examples.
Gabriel García Márquez employs magical realism by blending the ordinary with the extraordinary. The presence of an old man with wings is an example of the surreal embedded in a mundane setting. While the villagers acknowledge his supernatural qualities, they treat him in a practical and dismissive manner. Another instance of magical realism is the woman who was supposedly turned into a spider by lightning—an impossible event treated as factual within the story. Márquez uses these elements to critique human behavior, showing how the remarkable can be met with indifference or exploitation.
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How does the story criticize human greed and exploitation?
Pelayo and Elisenda’s treatment of the angel exposes society’s greed and tendency to exploit the vulnerable. Instead of helping the old man, they profit from his suffering by charging people to see him. Visitors are equally cruel, expecting miracles and mistreating him when he fails to meet their expectations. The contrast between the angel’s patience and the villagers’ selfishness highlights how greed often overshadows basic decency, reducing even extraordinary beings to mere commodities.
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Discuss the role of setting in A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings. How does the environment reflect the themes of the story?
The setting—a small, coastal village—plays a crucial role in the story’s themes. The mud-filled courtyard, the chicken coop, and the bustling marketplace reflect the mundane and ordinary aspects of life. Against this backdrop, an angel appears, contrasting the supernatural with the everyday. The neglected chicken coop, where the angel is kept, symbolizes the disregard for anything extraordinary when it does not serve a material purpose. This setting reinforces the idea that miracles are often overlooked in the pursuit of personal gain.
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How does Elisenda’s final reaction to the angel’s departure reflect her character development?
When Elisenda watches the angel fly away, she feels relief rather than awe or sadness. Her reaction shows that she has grown indifferent to his presence, no longer seeing him as either a burden or a source of income. She has benefited financially from exploiting him, but now that he has regained his freedom, she feels unbothered by his absence. This lack of emotional connection highlights the theme of human detachment and the self-centered nature of the characters.
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What does the angel symbolize in the story?
The angel symbolizes many things: suffering, endurance, and the way society views the miraculous. His weak and unimpressive appearance strips him of traditional divine grandeur, forcing readers to question the meaning of faith and compassion. He also represents the exploitation of the extraordinary, as he is turned into a circus-like attraction rather than receiving aid or respect. Ultimately, his resilience and eventual escape symbolize the endurance of the divine, despite human neglect and cruelty.
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How does A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings challenge traditional notions of divinity?
The story presents a divine being in a frail, unimpressive form, challenging the conventional image of angels as majestic and powerful. Instead of inspiring awe, the angel is treated with contempt and neglect. His patience and suffering contrast with humanity’s cruelty, suggesting that true divinity lies in endurance and resilience rather than grandeur. The story urges readers to reconsider their expectations of miracles, showing that the divine might exist in ways that society fails to recognize.
Character Sketches
The Old Man
The old man in the story is a strange and mysterious character. He looks like a weak and tired human being, but he also has huge wings, which makes people think he might be an angel. When Pelayo finds him, the old man is lying face down in the mud, dirty, wet, and unable to stand up. He does not speak clearly and talks in a language that no one understands. He looks more like a poor beggar than a powerful angel.
The old man is very quiet and patient. Even when people lock him in the chicken coop, throw food at him, pull out his feathers, and treat him badly, he never fights back. He suffers silently and doesn’t show any anger or pain. He eats very little and looks weak, but he never complains. His only special quality seems to be his great patience.
In the end, the old man slowly recovers and starts to grow new feathers. One day, he finally flies away. His departure is peaceful, and no one stops him. The old man seems like a symbol of quiet strength and mystery. Even though he was treated badly, he remained calm and finally left on his own.
Pelayo
Pelayo is an ordinary man who lives with his wife, Elisenda, and their sick child. He works as a bailiff and seems to care for his family. One day, when he sees a strange old man with wings in his courtyard, he is shocked and scared. But he soon becomes used to the sight and tries to understand what kind of person the man is. When a neighbour says the old man is an angel, Pelayo doesn’t fully believe it, but he still decides to keep him locked in the chicken coop.
Pelayo is not cruel, but he also doesn’t treat the angel with kindness. He watches over him with a club and treats him more like a strange animal than a person. When the angel brings crowds of people to their house, Pelayo sees a chance to earn money. He and his wife charge people to see the angel, and they become very rich.
After getting rich, Pelayo stops working and enjoys his new life. He even builds a big house. He doesn’t care much about the angel once the money is made. Pelayo is a simple man who thinks more about his family’s comfort than about the miracle that came to his home.
Elisenda
Elisenda is a practical and hardworking woman. When the strange old man with wings arrives in their courtyard, she is surprised and unsure of what to think. At first, like her husband Pelayo, she is afraid and confused. But soon she sees a chance to earn money from the angel’s presence. Along with Pelayo, she helps turn their home into a place where people come to see the angel, and they charge money for it. This shows that Elisenda is smart and knows how to use an opportunity to improve her life.
She cares about her child and tries to take care of him when he is sick. She also becomes rich and buys fine things like satin shoes and silk dresses, showing that she enjoys a better lifestyle. However, she never really treats the angel kindly. She sees him more as a problem or a source of income than as a person or a miracle. Even in the end, when the angel finally flies away, she feels relief—not sadness or wonder. This shows that Elisenda is more focused on her comfort and daily life than on the mystery or magic of the angel. She is practical but lacks deep compassion.
Writing Part
Letter Writing
Letter 1: Based on the extract above, write a letter to the editor of a news daily, requesting a column for bringing the old man’s plight into the authorities’ notice so that he will be given good treat.
12 May, 2025
The Editor
The Times of India
Trivandrum – 33
Subject: Urgent Attention Needed for the Old Man’s Welfare
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to bring to light the distressing condition of an elderly man who has been subjected to neglect and mistreatment despite his helplessness. As highlighted in a recent incident, this old man, weakened and vulnerable, has been confined in miserable conditions while the world watches in apathy. Instead of receiving the dignity and care that any human deserves, he has been reduced to a mere spectacle, exploited for entertainment and profit.
It is appalling that such indifference prevails when compassion should guide our actions. His plight demands immediate intervention from authorities to ensure his well-being. He requires proper shelter, medical assistance, and humane treatment. Society must rise beyond selfish gains and extend the kindness that every individual deserves, regardless of their circumstances.
I urge your esteemed publication to dedicate a column to his story, highlighting the urgency of his condition. With increased visibility, authorities and concerned citizens may take action to provide him with the respect and care he needs. Let us not turn away from this injustice but instead act as advocates for the vulnerable.
Your voice through a published appeal can become the catalyst for change. I sincerely hope you consider this request and initiate a movement of compassion through your platform.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to seeing this issue addressed in your forthcoming editions.
Sincerely,
Ameya.
Letter 2: Elisenda is writing to her sister to visit her to see the old man.
Dear Sister,
I hope you and your family are all well. I have something very strange to tell you. Please read this carefully.
One day, after a big rain, Pelayo found an old man in our backyard. He was lying in the mud. He looked very tired and dirty. But the strangest thing is — he has big wings! Yes, real wings like a bird. He does not talk like us. He speaks in a funny language that no one understands. He looks more like a very old man than an angel, but people say he is an angel.
Now many people are coming to see him. They throw food to him and try to touch him. Some people believe he can make sick people better. Every day more and more people come. We had to build a fence and take a small fee to let them in. It is like a fair in our yard!
You must come and see him with your family. I know it sounds unbelievable, but it is true. The old man is still here, staying in our chicken coop. Bring the children too. They will never forget this.
Come soon, before he flies away or something else happens. You can stay with us in our new house. We have more space now.
I am waiting to see you all.
With love,
Elisenda
News Report Writing
Mystery of the Winged Old Man Draws Huge Crowd
By Staff Reporter, Malayala Manorama
Thalassery, Live Update: A strange event is happening here, and the crowd is growing bigger by the minute. An old man with large wings was found lying in the mud behind a house. He looks weak and tired, but his wings have made people curious.
Pelayo, the man who lives in the house, found him earlier today. His wife, Elisenda, was taking care of their sick child when he rushed inside to tell her. Soon, neighbors started arriving, whispering about who the old man might be. A woman from the village claimed he was an angel who had come for the child. After hearing this, more and more people showed up.
The crowd is behaving wildly. Some are throwing food at him, while others are pulling at his feathers. A few people are even tossing stones to see if he will fly. Instead of helping him, most people are treating him like an attraction.
Pelayo and Elisenda have fenced the area and are charging people to see him. Their yard now feels more like a fairground than a home.
The old man stays quiet, not reacting to anything. No officials have arrived yet, and his fate remains uncertain. Stay tuned for more updates as this unfolds.
Speech Writing
Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about human behavior—how we react to the unknown, how we treat those in need, and how greed often changes our kindness. To do this, let’s look at the story A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel García Márquez.
In this story, a weak, old man with huge wings appears in a village. Instead of helping him, people treat him like a strange object. Some try to prove he is an angel, while others use him for entertainment. He is locked in a chicken coop, poked, plucked, and ignored when he stops being interesting.
What does this say about us? It shows how curiosity can turn into cruelty. It reminds us that people often look for personal gain instead of showing kindness. The villagers could have given the old man care, but they saw him as an opportunity rather than a fellow human in need.
This story teaches us an important lesson: How we treat others—especially the weak and different—shows who we truly are. Kindness should never be based on usefulness. True compassion comes from helping without expecting rewards.
So let’s ask ourselves—how do we respond to those who are different or struggling? Do we help, or do we turn away? Let’s choose kindness, because humanity is defined by how we treat the most vulnerable among us.
Thank you.
Diary Entries
Diary 1
April 10
I cannot believe what has happened. This morning, I found an old man with enormous wings lying face down in the mud behind our house. Elisenda and I were shocked. He looks weak and frail, nothing like the powerful angels we have heard about in stories. His wings are dirty and tangled, barely able to move. Is he really an angel, or just an unlucky man caught in the storm? As the news spread, people gathered at our house. Some believe he has come to take our child, but strangely, our son’s fever disappeared after we found the old man. The villagers are throwing food at him and pulling his feathers. He doesn’t fight back, just endures it all. I feel uneasy, but I do not stop them.
Elisenda suggested charging people to see the angel, and now, in just a few days, we have made more money than I ever imagined. We built a large house, and I no longer have to work. But the old man remains in the chicken coop, ignored and suffering. His wings seem even weaker now. I keep wondering—what if he truly is an angel? Have we treated him cruelly? He has never harmed us, and yet we have let him suffer while taking everything he gave us. He deserves better, but I cannot change what we have done. I don’t know if I will ever forget his presence in our lives.
Diary 2: Elisenda’s Diary – Today
Today the old man with wings flew away.
I was in the kitchen, cutting onions. A big wind came. I looked out the window and saw him. He was trying to fly. His wings looked big, but he was flying slowly, like an old bird. He hit the shed, but then he went up into the sky.
I watched him go over the houses. He looked so small in the sky. Like a tiny dot. I kept watching until I couldn’t see him anymore.
I felt a little strange. He had been in our yard for so long. At first, he was scary. Then, we got used to him. People came to see him. They gave us money. We got rich. We built a big house. But he stayed in the chicken coop.
Now he is gone. He didn’t say goodbye. He didn’t make any noise. He just flew away. I feel happy he is not in the yard anymore. Life can be quiet again.
But I also feel a little sad. He was part of our life. Maybe he was an angel. Maybe just a poor old man.
Goodbye, old man with wings.
Notice Writing
Pelayo & Elisenda’s Villa
NOTICE
Instructions for Visitors
1 May, 2025
All visitors are requested not to touch or disturb the winged man. Food may be tossed through the openings of the coop. Kindly avoid loud noises and disruptive behavior. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Any attempt to free the creature is strictly forbidden.
Warning: This being is fragile and unpredictable. Any reckless behavior will result in immediate removal from the premises. Come witness this extraordinary sight before it vanishes!
Visiting Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Entry Fee: 5 cents per person
Signed,
Pelayo.
Phrasal Verbs
(Choose from: look at, get up, drag out, throw at, take care of, give up, bump into)
One rainy day, Pelayo saw something strange in the courtyard. He went close to ______ (1) the shape in the mud. It was an old man with wings. The man was trying hard to ______ (2), but he couldn’t. Pelayo then ______ (3) the man and put him in the chicken coop. Many people came to see him and ______ (4) food and even stones at him, trying to make him fly. Elisenda was busy as she had to ______ (5) the sick child. After some time, Pelayo and Elisenda became rich and Pelayo decided to ______ (6) his job as a bailiff. The old man grew weaker and often ______ (7) posts because his eyes were foggy. But one day, he flew away.
Answers: 1. look at; 2. get up; 3. drag out; 4. throw at; 5. take care of; 6. give up; 7. bump into
Textual Analysis
The light was weak, even at noon. When Pelayo was coming back to the house, it was hard for him to see what was moving and groaning in the rear of the courtyard. He had to go very close to see that it was an old man, a very old man. The man was lying face down in the mud. In spite of his tremendous efforts, the man couldn’t get up, impeded by his enormous wings. Frightened by the sight, Pelayo ran to get Elisenda, his wife. She was putting compresses on their sick child. He took her to the rear of the courtyard. They both looked at the fallen body. The man was dressed like a ragpicker. There were only a few faded hairs left on his bald skull and very few teeth in his mouth. His pitiful condition seemed that of a drenched great grandfather. This took away any sense of grandeur he might have had. His huge buzzard wings, dirty and half-plucked, were entangled in the mud.
They looked at him so long and so closely that Pelayo and Elisenda very soon overcame their surprise. In the end they found him familiar. Then they dared speak to him. He answered in an incomprehensible dialect with a strong sailor’s voice. They concluded that he was a lonely castaway from some foreign ship, wrecked by the storm. Then they called in a neighbour woman to see him. All she needed was one look to show them their mistake. “He’s an angel,” she told them. “He must have been coming for the child, but the poor fellow is so old that the rain knocked him down.”
On the following day everyone knew that a flesh-and-blood angel was held captive in Pelayo’s house. Pelayo watched over him all afternoon from the kitchen, armed with his bailiff’s club. Before going to bed, he dragged him out of the mud and locked him up with the hens in the chicken coop. A short time afterward the child woke up without a fever and with a desire to eat. Then they felt magnanimous. They decided to put the angel on a raft with fresh water and provisions for three days, and leave him to his fate on the high seas.
But when they went out into the courtyard at the first light of dawn, they found the whole neighbourhood in front of the chicken coop having fun with the angel. The visitors were tossing him things to eat through the openings in the coop. It was as if he weren’t a supernatural creature but a circus animal. The news of the captive angel spread with great rapidity. After a few hours, the courtyard had the bustle of a marketplace. The couple had to call in troops to disperse the mob. They got the idea of fencing in the yard, and charging five cents for admission to see the angel. The curious came from far away. The most unfortunate invalids on earth came in search of health. Pelayo and Elisenda were happy with fatigue. In less than a week they had crammed their rooms with money. Still the line of pilgrims waiting their turn to enter reached beyond the horizon.
The angel was the only one who took no part in his own act. He spent his time trying to get comfortable in his borrowed nest. At first, they tried to make him eat some mothballs. But he ate nothing but eggplant mush. His only supernatural virtue seemed to be patience. He was quite patient when the hens pecked at him, searching for the parasites in his wings. He was patient again when the cripples pulled out his feathers to touch their limbs with. He remained patient when even the most merciful threw stones at him. After all, they were only trying to get him to rise so that they could see him standing.
It so happened that during those days there arrived in the town a travelling show. The main attraction was a woman who had been changed into a spider by a burst of thunder and lightning. The admission fee to see her was less than the fee to see the angel. So, the people flocked to see her. They were also permitted to ask her all manner of questions about her absurd state.
The owners of the house had no reason to lament. With the money they saved they built a two-storey mansion with balconies and gardens. It also had high netting so that crabs wouldn’t get in during the winter, and iron bars on the windows so that angels wouldn’t get in. Pelayo also set up a rabbit warren and gave up his job as a bailiff for good. Elisenda bought some satin pumps with high heels and many dresses of iridescent silk. The chicken coop was the only thing that didn’t receive any attention. The dung-heap stench from the coop was turning the new house into an old one.
At first, when the child learned to walk, they were careful that he did not get too close to the coop. But then they began to lose their fears and got used to the smell. Before the child got his second teeth, he’d gone inside the chicken coop to play, as the wires were falling apart. They both came down with the chicken pox at the same time. The doctor who took care of the child couldn’t resist the temptation to listen to the angel’s heart. He found so much whistling in the heart and so many sounds in the kidneys.
What surprised him most, however, was the logic of his wings. They seemed so natural on that completely human organism. He couldn’t understand why other people didn’t have them too. When the child began school, the sun and rain had caused the collapse of the chicken coop. The angel went dragging himself about here and there like a stray dying man. He seemed to be in so many places at the same time.
He could scarcely eat, and his eyes had also become so foggy that he went about bumping into posts. Pelayo threw a blanket over him and let him sleep in the shed. Only then did they notice that he had a temperature at night. They became alarmed, for they thought he was going to die. And yet he not only survived his worst winter but seemed improved with the first sunny days. He remained motionless for several days in the farthest corner of the courtyard. At the beginning of December some large, stiff feathers began to grow on his wings. They looked like the feathers of a scarecrow.
One morning Elisenda was cutting some bunches of onions for lunch when a wind blew into the kitchen. Then she went to the window and found the angel in his first attempts at flight. These were so clumsy that he was on the point of knocking the shed down as he couldn’t get a grip on the air. But then, he did manage to gain altitude. Elisenda let out a sigh of relief, for herself and for him, when she watched him pass over the last houses. He was holding himself up in some way with the risky flapping of a senile vulture.
She kept watching him even when she was through cutting the onions. She kept on watching until it was no longer possible for her to see him. He was no longer an annoyance in her life but an imaginary dot on the horizon of the sea.
Alternative Ending
Can you imagine another ending for this story? Write another ending in 150 words.
Elisenda watched as the old man tried to fly. His wings were weak, but he kept flapping. For the first time, she felt sorry for him. He had suffered so much in their yard, treated more like an animal than a person. Instead of feeling relieved that he was leaving, she stepped outside and called to him. The old man stopped, looking at her. Seeing the kindness in her eyes, he slowly came down. Elisenda and Pelayo gave him food and water. They helped him rest in their home, not in the chicken coop. Days passed, and the town lost interest in him. The old man grew stronger. One evening, he spread his wings and flew into the sky. Elisenda smiled as she watched him go. This time, she understood—he was not just a strange creature but a miracle they had failed to see.
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