Reading Response

1. List the characters in the story. Write one to two sentences on the defining characteristics of each one, providing at least one citation to illustrate your comments.
Pelayo
Elisenda
The Old Man
Father Gonzaga
The Neighbor Woman
The Spider Woman

Can someone give me an example. thank you

Damn This was posted nine days after I was born!!

The Old Man With Enormous Wings

Ah yes, we read that in Spanish! Now, try your best and then we'll be happy to help.

Sra

To list the characters in the story and describe their defining characteristics, you can refer to the text and use evidence from the story to support your observations. Here is an example:

1. Pelayo: Pelayo is the husband of Elisenda and the first to encounter the old man with wings. He is described as practical and level-headed, as seen when he decides to lock the angel in the chicken coop for safekeeping. For instance, the narrator states, "So the couple went to look at him where he was and found him still trying to get up in spite of his being tied down to earth" (Marquez, 1955).

2. Elisenda: Elisenda is Pelayo's wife. She initially sees the angel as a source of wealth due to the attention it brings, but she gradually becomes frustrated by the economic burden it imposes on them. Elisenda is portrayed as opportunistic and calculating. The text mentions, "Elisenda... barely had a second to breathe in her desire to get rid of the angel" (Marquez, 1955).

3. The Old Man: The angel serves as the central character in the story. He possesses wings and is described as having "huge buzzard wings, dirty and half-plucked" (Marquez, 1955). The old man symbolizes both beauty and terror and is met with curiosity, awe, and fear by the people in the town.

4. Father Gonzaga: Father Gonzaga is the local priest in the story. He sees the old man as an imposter rather than a genuine angel. Father Gonzaga is skeptical and refuses to believe the old man's wings are a sign from God. The story mentions, "The parish priest had his first suspicion of an imposter when he saw that he did not understand the language of God or know how to greet his ministers" (Marquez, 1955).

5. The Neighbor Woman: The neighbor woman is a superstitious and exaggerated character in the story. While some believe the old man is an angel, she sees him as a harbinger of doom and insists on killing him by throwing a boiling pot of water on him. The text states, "The neighbor woman... got the idea of ripping the angel's wings out" (Marquez, 1955).

6. The Spider Woman: The spider woman is only briefly mentioned in the story. She is depicted as someone who had been transformed into a tarantula for defying the natural order. Her existence serves as a contrast to the angel's, further emphasizing the theme of the extraordinary in a world of the ordinary.

Remember, when analyzing characters, it's important to provide evidence from the text to support your interpretations.