In the story, "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings", Gabriel Marquez presents to the reader the theme of folklore through the use of key elements. Folklore is a traditional story or custom preserved by a specific culture to communicate that culture's beliefs, values, history, and myths from generation to generation (p 1784). Marquez conveys this theme by using the key elements of monsters, animals talking and flat characters.
             One major element of folklore Marquez uses to convey the theme in the story is through the use of monsters. The monster that appears in the story is not the typical type of monster found in folklores. The angel in this story is presented to the reader to be a monster and not a heavenly being as most angels are portrayed. Usually, when one thinks about an angel they would associate very radiant images with its physical appearance. Angels often have very full and flowing heads of hair, along with glowing smiles. Also, one would also expect an angel to have a very pleasant and soft voice. Marquez uses very dark imagery to show the angel as a monster. One quote that truly embodies the appearance of the angel is when the author describes the angel as being "dressed like a ragpicker" (p 570). The angel has very little hair on his head, as well as only a few teeth left in his mouth. The angel's wings look like buzzards wings and the feathers are scarce. Marquez also says that the angel's voice was like a sailor's, which could be described as raspy and deep (p 570). Through the imagery Marquez uses in the story, the reader is able to see how the angel is in a sense a monster. Therefore, one is also able to see the theme of folklore in the story.
             Another key element found in the novel that assists in Marquez's portrayal of the theme of folklore is a talking animal. In folklores many times talking animals are used to keep the story interesting or to infuse an e...