A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings: A Tale For ChildrenGabriel Garcia Marquez

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings centers around “The Old man”, a presumed angel that came to take away the life of Pelayo and Elisenda’s child during on grey stormy night. However, due to fatigue and old age, the old man is left to reside in the chicken coop of Pelayo and Elisenda’s yard. The Mysterious man is treated with little compassion and is treated as a captive animal. Much to the disdain of Elisenda, He stood in the yard for months if not years until he eventually flies away.

The plot focuses on this surreal and almost magical experience that quickly becomes normal. It’s a satirical take on the nature of humans to take the wonder and significance out of life in general. Rather than be amazed, Elisenda is annoyed by the angel’s presence. Instead of having compassion for the old man, Pelayo and Elisenda decide to put him behind a fence and charge money. Instead of admiration, the spectators beat and brandish the old man. It is these plot points that express the eventual return normalcy within the story. The angel becomes mundane until he eventually takes flight, leaving Elisenda to watch as he flies away not as an old man with wings, but as an angel.

The House of Asterion Jorge Luis Borges

The House of Asterion begins with that of Asterion himself, as he starts by refuting claims of him being arrogant, insane, or a misanthropist. He goes on to describe where he lives, and how despite what people may call a prison, is his home. There is no furniture, and despite the “infinite” doors, none are locked. The plot focuses on Asterion’s life within this infinite maze as well as his denial of the truth. Such is the nature of life to hold unimaginable truths, as is Asterion to seek out his unimaginable truth; redemption and inevitable death. A death, at the hand of his “redemptioner”, Theseus, who notes on the lack of a struggle the minotaur (Asterion) puts up. Unbeknownst to Asterion, this is the hero he seeks.