Running head: LITERARY ANALYSIS 1
Literary Analysis of a Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
Dominique Gilmore
Ashford University
Instructor: Stephen Rogers
Date: 28 Feb 2017
- 1 -
1
1. Literary Analysis of a
Very Old Man with
Enormous Wings
Dominique Gilmore
Ashford University
Instructor: Stephen Rogers
Date: 28 Feb 2017
This page is perfectly done!
[Stephen Rogers]
LITERARY ANALYSIS 2
Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
In some stories, characters come into conflict with the culture in which they live. Often, a
character feels alienated in his/her community or society due to race, gender, class or ethnic
background. In “A very old man with enormous wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the author
weaves human beings with supernatural abilities that are depicted in an unexpected twist yet
exciting way. One is left asking themselves how they would have responded if they were to be
confronted with a supernatural being.
A creative tone and a unique style are used by Marquez to create the narrative. He blends
the prosaic and repugnant parts of life extraordinarily. The elements are used to create a story
that conveys the everyday lives, yet repudiate it. The narrative invites the reader to have a close
view of the events that unfold in their lives and actuate how they respond to the prosaic they
face. The story is an inspiration for people always to take another glance at the unordinary events
that sometimes may mean something deeper. The tale is an exhibition that the blending of
mundane with extraordinariness could make a difference to life when people look at them from
the right angle.
The tone used by Marquez at the beginning of the story is natural and unwelcoming for
the occurrence that follows after that. That is; a sick child in the midst of a drab and inclement
weather (Marquez, 2004). The first sentences indicate a writing style that grabs the imaginations
of Marquez. He writes that the globe had been unhappy since Tuesday (Marquez, 2004) which
brings in an extraordinary element by introducing a dreamlike character of a senior man with
large wings. However, he immediately smashes any mindset that the reader has a powerful and
- 2 -
1
2
3
1. The narrative invites the
reader to have a close
view of the events that
unfold in their lives and
actuate how they respond
to the prosaic they
face.
Great use of the active voice
here! The passive voice is not
as appealing to the reader as
the active voice. Active voice
sentences place the subject
doing the work, and they are
appealing to your reader
quickly indicating to them the
action happening. Sometimes
we have to use the passive
voice. For example, if we do
not know who robbed the
liquor store, we might say,
"The store was robbed."
However, we could make this
one an active voice sentence
by simply saying, "The
criminal robbed the liquor
store" which is much better
than the passive form. So, do
use active voice sentences as
much as you can for stronger
writing. [Stephen Rogers]
2. it.
Words such as "there is" or "It
is" or words such as "This,
that, these, those" are
useless in meaning and are
just filler. To provide stronger
writing, define what those
words are. Doing so gives
you a clearer piece for your
readers and you get to "beef-
up" your word count.
[Stephen Rogers]
3. That is; a sick child in the
midst of a drab and
inclement
weather
Try reading your essay out
loud. This technique can help
you to eliminate awkward
phrasing, repetition, and other
errors. For additional
assistance, use the
Grammarly tool. Visit the
'Writing Center & Library' link
in your course where you will
find the Grammar Help tab.
Use the directions found
there. [Stephen Rogers]
LITERARY ANALYSIS 3
holy angels by keeping the old man facing downwards towards the mud and not in a position to
disencumber himself by writing, “impeded by his enormous wings” Marquez, 2004). In another
part of the story, Marquez conveys a tone that has a sense of regret that humankind does not
acknowledge the power that exists as part of our lives. Rather than acknowledging an experience
and having a full life, humanity tends to have the view of what is in for them. When a couple,
Elisenda and Pelayo decide to have onlookers pay to see him just to exploit the angle (Marquez,
2004) depicts a sense of selfishness and greediness. The part of the story gives the reader a
chance to reflect and imagine what would happen if they were faced with a similar scenario.
With an impression of irony, the reader is told that each object that should have
empowered the old man to fly above elements, that is, his wings, are the ones that hindered him
and the cause of the attention he was getting. The irony is entwined through the narrative as one
can view it in the woman who was wise enough (Marquez, 2004) to determine the elderly man
with wings to be an angel and proposed beating him until he dies. The concept is also seen in the
wording of Marquez when he chooses to indicate that the husband and the wife felt as if they
were unstinting when they decided to put the angel adrift on a raft that has food that would keep
him going for a couple of days and abandon him to his destiny at the seas.
Marquez’s story also depicts a judgmental society. Although having a different
perspective is inevitable in many societies, it does not have to be at all times and in all situations.
Despite the old man being seen as an angel, he does not possess the qualities of an angel.
Marquez (2004) indicates that there were only some few hairs which are faded left on his bald
skull and countable teeth. There was nothing about the old man that measured to the appearance
of an angel. The most skeptical person was Father Gonzaga who was the town’s voice. The
- 3 -
1
2
3
1. When a couple,
Elisenda and Pelayo decide
to have onlookers pay to
see him just to exploit the
angle (Marquez, 2004)
depicts a sense of
selfishness and greediness.
Too much retelling of the
story is not what is best in a
literary analysis. The majority
of your essay must be your
thoughts words and ideas.
And so far, I am seeing some
wonderful possibilities and
examples of this in your
narrative. Sure. You must use
source material to support
your assertions and ideas, but
more research and thought
can help you take those
original thoughts and go even
deeper in meaning for your
reader. [Stephen Rogers]
2. The irony is entwined
through the narrative as
one can view it in the
woman who was wise
enough (Marquez, 2004) to
determine the elderly man
with wings to be an angel
and proposed beating him
until he dies.
This is a good sentence! The
wording flows smoothly and
clearly. More importantly, the
sentence is simple and clear.
I tell students that just
because they are in college,
they are not necessarily
required to use fancy words
to show they are smart.
Here's the advice I can give
you: "I would rather see
sentences that are simple and
clear than sentences that are
complex and confusing."
Good work! Thanks.
[Stephen Rogers]
3. Marquez’s story also
depicts a judgmental
society. Although having a
different
perspective is inevitable in
many societies, it does not
have to be at all times and
in all situations.
You have made an insightful
analysis of the subject. Being
able to analyze material in a
critical manner helps enhance
your ideas and lends
credibility to you as a writer.
Nice job! [Stephen Rogers]
LITERARY ANALYSIS 4
people reactions showed a lack of empathy and solidarity thus depicting a judgmental
community.
In a unique way, Marquez represents an inconsistency in faith by individuals. Devotees
claim they have faith, but when it comes to the practical part of it, they fall short. Then he
noticed he was too much human (Marquez, 2004). When a magical creature appears, the people
lose interest in the senior man as the spider woman can explain his transformations.
However, at the end of the narrative, Marquez leaves the reader with some questions in
mind. How many times do people look up for a moment, see a magical thing and walk away?
How frequently do people face something amazing and fail to see what it is because of failing to
have perspectives? Magical realism in the narrative invites the reader to answer the questions by
entering a place of imagination, mystery and look into own views and actions as a way of
measuring the components of everyday life.
- 4 -
1
2
1. However, at the end of
the narrative, Marquez
leaves the reader with some
questions in mind.
Here is a good place for your
opinion of the story: the
conclusion. Try to summarize
what you have said and try to
connect or "tie-in" your thesis
with the conclusion. Again, do
take a look at the sample
literary analysis and you will
see what you can do to make
a much better conclusion or
at least enhance the
conclusion you have
provided. [Stephen Rogers]
2. How many times do
people look up for a
moment, see a magical
thing and walk away?
How frequently do people
face something amazing
and fail to see what it is
because of failing to have
perspectives?
These are all good questions.
Your answer to them from
your thought and research will
provide you with an in-depth
discussion of your thesis as
well as engage your reader's
interest. Also, the answers to
your questions can be a
thesis statement as well as
help you further your
discussion for your reader.
[Stephen Rogers]
LITERARY ANALYSIS 5
Reference
Garcia'Marrquez, G. (2004). _ A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.
- 5 -
1
1. Reference
Please see an APA formatted
references page in the Writing
Center. We connect our in-
text citations to the references
page. From there, a reader
can then check your source
material for accuracy or to
read further about what
interests them. Also, in order
to avoid any plagiarism
issues, the references page
must be done correctly.
Finally, do check the material
in the classroom and the AU
Writing Center for help with
this page. [Stephen Rogers]