Literary devices are narrative techniques that add energy, excitement, and texture to the writer's narrative. The devices grip the imagination of the reader and convey the intended information to the readers (Wead,54). While there are several hundreds of literary devices at the disposal of the author, the author only uses a handful of common devices. Gabriel Garcia Marquez employs the use of some of these literary devices in his book titled a very old man with enormous wings. The emphasis is on the devices such as irony, symbolism, tone, theme, diction, structure and rhyme to pass information to the readers and audience.

The book a very old man with enormous wings is a short story and a tale for children. It is about a very old man with wings and appears in a small town. Looking sick and bedraggled and speaking in a language that is impossible to comprehend. People of the village thought that he is an angel and becomes the main subject of the talk in town and much speculation (Marquez,75 ). The old man is never treated with respect and dignity. In the end, the old man can gather enough strength and uses the wings to fly away.

The irony is one of the stylistic devices employed by the author Gabriel. It is an act of doing something or saying something when signifying the opposite. First, the old man has wings, and everyone assumed that he was an angel, ironically the old man could not respond to father Gonzaga when spoken to in Latin that is considered to be the language of God. The second incidence is when the couple says that the old man was awful to live with yet the old man was never a burden in any way to the couple. The wings of the old man ironically represent old age and disease.

Symbolism is another style used in the book. Symbolism involves the use of symbols to represent an idea. In the book, symbolism is seen when Gabriel uses wings. They represent speed, power and limitless freedom to move. The couples' neighbor’s wife calls the old man with wings an angel which symbolizes reaction of man to what they do not understand. Angels are perceived to be a beautiful and powerful creature. Gabriel uses the angel as an old man to convey disease and age because the old man was sick and could not move with ease.

The tone is also another literary device used. Tone is a device that represents the general attitude of a place. Tone is evident when Elisenda and Pelayo mistreat the old man. They put the old man in a chicken coop and cage him like an animal exploiting for money not appreciating his supernatural being. The priest, father Gonzaga is more interested in finding out if the said angel meets his prescribed test by talking to the old man in Latin which is seen as the language of God. The occupants of the city pay for a glimpse of the old man when they eagerly come to view the so-called angel.

The theme represents the main subject of writing or narration. The theme of the books, An old man with enormous wings is a reception of humans about supernatural beings.

Supernatural occurrences in the story are the girl who turned into a spider and old man with wings. The response of the people to the old man is that they treat the old man without respect and dignity and not like a supernatural being. Some receive the old man as an angel while others receive him as a super race.