VOCAB
"A Very Old Man/Enormous Wings"
Think questions
Comprehension
Theme:
Selfishness
100

What is the meaning of impede?

To prevent

100

Who were the main characters? (3)

the old man/angel and the couple (Pelayo and Elisenda) 

100
What are the townspeople's first impressions of the old man? How do they interpret his appearance?

Pelayo/Elisenda decide the main is a sailor.

The neighbor sees his wings and thinks he is an angel of death. 

Priest is suspicious because angel appears "much to human".

100

Why did the priest doubt the old man is an angel?

The old man did not look neat and tidy. The old man did not speak Latin.

100

What did Elisenda and Pelayo buy with the money they earned

Satin pumps and silk dresses

Built Rabbit warren

Built a two story mansion

200

What vocab word belongs in the blank?

I was ________ after learning that I was diagnosed with an incurable disease

Delirious - not able to speak or think clearly especially because of mental confusion or illness

200

Where did the story take place? 

a shore/beach village

200

What happens when the people learn of the "Spider-woman"? How does their reaction compare to when they first discovered the old man?

The people are moved by her story. They are kind to the spider woman because her story is "full of so much human truth" and reflects a "fearful lesson" that is relatable. 

200

Why did Elisenda decide to fence in the yard?

Elisenda wanted to charge people money to see the angel

200

Why did the villagers go to see the old man in the chicken coop?

Many people were curious about the angel in the chicken coop and they though the angel could help them.

300

What is the meaning of repose? 

a state of rest or sleep

300

What eventually drives people's attention away from the Old Man? What does this show about people? 

the spider-lady/ this shows that people want to see different things quickly

300

How does the old man transform physically throughout the story?

The old man arrive bald, nearly toothless, and his "huge buzzard wings" are "dirty and half plucked." Then looses most of his feathers and becomes ill. At the end, his wings regrow "large, stiff, feather" that allow him to fly away. 

300

Why was a woman changed into a spider?

The woman disobeyed her parents by going to a dance

300

How did the old man help Pelayo and Elisenda earn lots of money?

metaphor

400

You know quite well that nothing amuses me," said she, shrugging her shoulders with a supreme impertinence.

What is the vocab word and what does it mean? 

Impertinence - lack of respect; rudeness

400

When the people hurt the Old Man, most think that he is acting out of pain. Even thought this is the case, why do they avoid annoying him? What do they think will happen? What does this show about the people?

He could hurt them; they are afraid of him


400

The main ideas and important details of a text.

summary

400

Why did Pelayo and Elisenda put netting and iron bars on their home?

The netting kept the crabs out and the bars were to keep out the angels

400

The villagers and spectators are cruel to the angel, what characteristic allows the the old man to endure abuse?

Patience 

500

To be generous or forgiving

What is this vocab word? Spell it right!

Magnanimous 

500

What had changed the girl into a spider?

A magical ram


500

What is the purpose of summarizing and paraphrasing?

To condense and rephrase information.

500

What did the old man do at the end of the story?

The old man flew away over the sea and nobody cared

500

"They felt magnanimous and decided to put the angel on a raft with fresh water and provisions for three days and leave him to his fate" Why do you think they would do this to the angel?

They thought the angel was connected to their child's fever. When their child recovered, they felt the angel was not useful for them so they thought about getting rid of the angel.