Part 1, Poem 1

“Four Years Before I Existed” consists of a single <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.supersummary.com/narrative/">narrative</a> poem that tells the story of the first meeting between the narrator’s mother and father in Cuba. Her father is an art student from Los Angeles, California, who speaks English, and her mother is an artist from Trinidad, Cuba, who speaks Spanish. Despite speaking a different language, her father patiently courts her mother before asking her to marry him. She rejects the proposal. He proposes once again. As he is about to give up, her mother explains that it is the tradition of her small village to reject a suitor three times before accepting marriage to illustrate the value of the woman’s hand. The narrator describes her mother’s acceptance as her mother’s first act of bravery.

Part 1, Poem 1 Summary

Part 2, Poems 1-3

“Flight” through “More Love at First Sight” describe the narrator’s first visit to Cuba when she and her sister are very young. “Flight” describes the trip by plane as well as her first impression of <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Character" href="https://www.supersummary.com/enchanted-air/key-figures/#589844">Abuelita</a> and the people of Cuba. It concludes by comparing Cuba to a “fairy-tale kingdom” (7). “Voice” describes the sound of the exotic songbirds kept in cages all around. The narrator compares her <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.

Part 2, Poems 1-3 Summary

Part 2, Poems 4-7

Part 2, Poems 4-7 Summary

Part 2, Poems 8-12

Part 2, Poems 8-12 Summary

Part 2, Poems 13-17

Part 2, Poems 13-17 Summary

Part 2, Poems 18-20

Part 2, Poems 18-20 Summary

Part 2, Poems 21-25

Part 2, Poems 21-25 Summary

Part 2, Poems 26-27

Part 2, Poems 26-27 Summary

Part 2, Poems 28-34

Part 2, Poems 28-34 Summary

Part 2, Poems 35-36

Part 2, Poems 35-36 Summary

Part 2, Poems 37-38

Part 2, Poems 37-38 Summary

Parts 1-2

Parts 1-2 Analysis

Humanities

Books About Art

Life & Time

Coming-of-Age Journeys

Literary Area of Study

Cuban Literature

Relationships

Family

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic & Latinx American Literature

Nonfiction

Inspiring Biographies

Genres

Juvenile Literature

School Book List Titles

Society

Margarita Engle

Middle grade

Memoir in Verse

Guide

Study Guide

Book Brief

Explore Enchanted Air reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

About Enchanted Air

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Overview

Get ready to explore Enchanted Air and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Enchanted Air Summary and Study Guide

Background

Enchanted Air Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Love at First Sight, Valentine’s Day, 1947” - Part 2: “Magical Travels, 1951-1959”

Enchanted Air Parts 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Winged Summer, 1960”

Part 3 Enchanted Air Part 3 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “Strange Sky, 1961-1964”

Part 4 Enchanted Air Part 4 Summary & Analysis

Part 5: “Two Wings, 1965”

Part 5-Author’s Note

Enchanted Air Part 5-Author’s Note Summary & Analysis

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Key Figures

Enchanted Air Key Figures

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Themes

Enchanted Air Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Enchanted Air Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Enchanted Air Literary Devices

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Important Quotes

Enchanted Air Important Quotes with Page Numbers

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Essay Topics

Enchanted Air Essay Topics

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings

Parts 1-2Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Love at First Sight, Valentine’s Day, 1947” - Part 2: “Magical Travels, 1951-1959”

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