A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Summary, Questions and Answers | Complete Notes I SSLC English I Class 10
Answers to the Questions
a. Why does the sight of the old man frighten Pelayo?
Pelayo is frightened because he sees a strange old man with enormous wings lying in the mud. The unusual sight shocks and terrifies him.
b. Why was the old man unable to get up?
The old man could not get up because his enormous wings were tangled in the mud and hindered his movements.
c. The couple consider the old man a ‘lonely castaway’. Why?
They think he is a castaway because he speaks in an incomprehensible dialect with a sailor-like voice and appears to have been stranded after the storm.
d. Why was the neighbour woman sure that the old man was an angel?
The neighbour woman believed he was an angel because of his huge wings. She thought he had come to take the sick child to heaven but had been knocked down by the rain.
e. Why did Pelayo arm himself with a club?
Pelayo armed himself with a club to protect himself and his family because he was unsure whether the old man was dangerous.
f. What made the couple suddenly decide to treat the man with some ‘kindness’?
When their sick child recovered from the fever and wanted to eat, they felt grateful and decided to show kindness to the old man.
g. Why does Pelayo lock the old man in the chicken coop?
Pelayo locks him in the chicken coop to keep him confined and under control while protecting the family from the mysterious stranger.
h. Why do the people treat the old man like a ‘circus animal’?
The people treat him like a circus animal because they are curious about his wings and see him as an object of entertainment rather than a divine being.
i. Do you think Elisenda is shrewd and clever? Why?
Yes. Elisenda is shrewd and practical because she realizes that people are willing to pay to see the angel and helps charge admission, which makes the family wealthy.
j. ‘His only supernatural virtue seemed to be patience.’ Why does the author say so?
The author says this because the angel quietly endures insults, stones, feather-plucking, and other cruel treatment without showing anger or resistance.
k. Why do more people flock to see the woman rather than the old man?
People prefer the woman-spider because her story is easy to understand, she can answer questions, and the admission fee is cheaper.
l. Why is the doctor surprised by the ‘logic’ of the wings?
The doctor is surprised because the wings seem perfectly natural and fit the old man's human body. He wonders why other human beings do not have wings too.
m. Why does Elisenda let out a sigh of relief?
Elisenda lets out a sigh of relief when the angel finally flies away because he is no longer a burden or annoyance in her life. She also feels relieved that he has regained his freedom.
Revisit the story and respond to the following questions.
1. What is the old man's role in the story? How does his presence affect Pelayo's family?
The old man is the central character and a symbol of mystery, faith, and humanity. His presence changes Pelayo's family's life completely. They become famous and wealthy by charging people to see him. They build a large house and enjoy a comfortable life because of the money earned from visitors.
2. Mention any two traits of the old man that impress you.
- Patience – He silently endures insults, stones, and cruel treatment.
- Endurance – Despite old age, sickness, and neglect, he survives and eventually regains his strength.
3. What elements of the story do you consider magical? Why?
The magical elements include the old man's enormous wings, his mysterious nature, and his ability to fly away at the end. These elements are magical because they are supernatural and cannot be explained by ordinary human understanding.
4. Describe the old man's first clumsy attempts at flight.
When the angel first tries to fly, he struggles to control his wings. He almost knocks down the shed and cannot get a proper grip on the air. After several awkward attempts, he finally gains altitude and slowly flies away.
5. What happens to the old man's popularity in the course of time?
At first, huge crowds gather to see him, and people pay money for admission. Later, his popularity declines when a travelling show featuring a woman transformed into a spider arrives. Eventually, people lose interest in him and forget about him.
6. Pick out instances of the following from the story.
Imagery
- enormous wings
- face down in the mud
- dirty and half-plucked wings entangled in the mud
- an imaginary dot on the horizon of the sea
Simile
- like a ragpicker
- like a stray dying man
Magical Elements
- wings
- the old man being identified as an angel
- the child recovering from fever
- the woman transformed into a spider
- the angel's mysterious survival despite illness
- the angel's final flight into the sky
7. Alternative Ending to the Story
As the angel disappeared into the sky, Elisenda felt a strange emptiness. For years, she had considered him a burden, but now she realized how cruelly he had been treated. She remembered how people had mocked and exploited him. Filled with regret, she wished she had shown him kindness and respect. From that day on, she became more compassionate towards others and taught her child the value of empathy and humanity.
8. Who suffers the most in the story? What does the story tell us about the need for compassion?
The old man suffers the most in the story. He is neglected, ridiculed, imprisoned in a chicken coop, and treated like an animal despite his age and weakness. People exploit him for money and entertainment instead of helping him.
The story teaches us the importance of compassion and kindness. It shows that people often judge others by their appearance and fail to recognize their dignity and suffering. The author reminds us that every individual deserves respect, care, and understanding, especially those who are weak, old, or different from us. Compassion makes us truly human and helps create a more caring society.
Let’s recall and recreate:
1. Go through the story again and list the physical and other traits of the old man, and of Pelayo and Elisenda.
| Old Man | Pelayo | Elisenda |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Traits | Physical Traits | Physical Traits |
| • old and frail | • strong and healthy | • young woman |
| • enormous wings | • ordinary appearance | • hardworking |
| • bald skull | • village bailiff | • neatly dressed after becoming rich |
| • few teeth | • sturdy build | • graceful appearance |
| • dirty and half-plucked wings | • active and energetic | • elegant in satin pumps and silk dresses |
| • ragged appearance | • hardworking | • caring mother |
| Personality Traits | Personality Traits | Personality Traits |
| • mysterious | • practical | • loving mother |
| • patient | • responsible | • practical |
| • humble | • cautious | • clever and shrewd |
| • enduring | • curious | • ambitious |
| • silent | • opportunistic | • caring |
| Significance in the Story | Significance in the Story | Significance in the Story |
| • represents the weak and the vulnerable | • represents ordinary people | • represents maternal instincts |
| • symbolizes mystery and miracles | • represents human curiosity | • represents practicality and ambition |
| • symbolizes patience and endurance | • represents fear and greed | • represents human selfishness |
| • highlights the need for compassion | • shows how people exploit the unknown | • shows how wealth changes people |
Character Sketch of the Old Man
Character Sketch of Pelayo
Character Sketch of Elisenda
Likely News Report
ANGEL KEPT IN CHICKEN COOP DRAWS HUGE CROWDS
By Staff Reporter
A strange incident has attracted widespread attention in a small coastal village. An elderly man with enormous wings was recently discovered by a local resident, Pelayo, after a severe storm.
The old man, believed by some villagers to be an angel, has been confined to a chicken coop in Pelayo's courtyard. Hundreds of curious visitors have flocked to the site, paying five cents each to see the unusual creature.
Witnesses report that the old man appears weak, aged, and harmless. Despite his condition, many visitors have treated him disrespectfully by mocking him and throwing objects at him. Several concerned residents have criticized this treatment and called for greater compassion.
Pelayo and his wife Elisenda have earned a considerable amount of money from the visitors. Meanwhile, debates continue among villagers regarding the true identity of the mysterious winged man.
Local authorities and community leaders are being urged to ensure the safety and dignity of the elderly stranger while investigations continue.
Pelayo's Diary Entry
June 17
Dear Diary,
Today has been one of the strangest days of my life. After the storm, I found a very old man with enormous wings lying in the mud behind my house. At first, I was terrified. I could not understand who he was or where he had come from.
Soon, people gathered around my house after hearing the news. Some believed that he was an angel. Others simply came out of curiosity. Elisenda and I were confused about what to do. We finally locked him in the chicken coop to keep him safe and prevent trouble.
To my surprise, people began paying money to see him. Our house is now crowded with visitors. While the money is helpful, I feel uneasy. The old man looks weak and helpless, yet people treat him like an animal. I do not know whether he is truly an angel or just a strange old man.
I wonder how this extraordinary event will change our lives in the days to come.
Pelayo
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