Gordimer’s short story “Once Upon a Time” started out happy and ended abrupt and depressing. The majority of fairytales have a happy ending and overall teaches a lesson. In most fairy tales‚ the story begins with the problem and ends in happiness. Irony begins in “ Once Upon A Time” when it starts out with happiness and with the characters being content‚ and then it switches to the problem at the end which leaves the readers thinking. The story is set in South Africa during the time of Apartheid. Apartheid
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"Once Upon a Time" was first published in 1989. Nadine Gordimer was born in 1923 near Johannesburg‚ South Africa. She graduated from the University of Witwatersrand. A prolific writer‚ Gordimer has published more than twenty books of fiction. When Nadine Gordimer was asked to write a children’s story she replied with a short story called "Once Upon a Time". Although Gordimer’s title is typical of a fairy tale‚ the story she weaves is anything but typical. Instead of dealing with characteristics synonymous
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The Blind Boy O SAY what is that thing call’d Light‚ Which I must ne’er enjoy; What are the blessings of the sight‚ O tell your poor blind boy! You talk of wondrous things you see‚ You say the sun shines bright; I feel him warm‚ but how can he Or make it day or night? My day or night myself I make Whene’er I sleep or play; And could I ever keep awake With me ’twere always day. With heavy sighs I often hear You mourn my hapless woe; But sure with patience I can
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Once Upon a Time by GABRIEL OKARA Once upon a time‚ son‚ they used to laugh with their hearts and laugh with their eyes: but now they only laugh with their teeth‚ while their ice-block-cold eyes search behind my shadow. There was a time indeed they used to shake hands with their hearts: but that’s gone‚ son. Now they shake hands without hearts: while their left hands search my empty pockets. ‘Feel at home’! ‘Come again’: they say‚ and when I come again and feel at home‚ once‚ twice‚ there will be
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Laura Riazzi 30 September 2009 A.P. English Literature and Composition 12 Mr. Lane “Once Upon a Time” Literary Analysis “Once Upon a Time” is a reverse fantasy story written by Nadine Gordimer. The concept of a reverse fantasy is a tale that one expects to end happily ever after but has a plot twist where the ending is cruel or injust. The structure of this story begins as the narrator writes that they are asked to contribute to an anthology of children’s literature. The next moment‚ while
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In Nadine Gordimer’s “Once Upon a Time”‚ Gordimer discusses the consequences of the family’s actions due to paranoia of the outside world. In the extract‚ Gordimer paints a picture of how the couple had taken extreme measures‚ erecting physical barriers around them to protect themselves from the purported dangers of their external environment‚ until they are unaware about the dangers that these barriers pose to themselves. Hence‚ the extract underlines the dangers that prejudice poses for oneself
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In the poems ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’ and ‘Once Upon a Time’‚ the idea of the relationship between father and child is explored‚ but in different ways. In ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’‚ the relationship between the poet and her father is portrayed as a warm and positive one. The poet writes of her father as a teacher to her. The lines ‘Writing deposit slips and checks‚ I think of him. He taught me how’ tells us of his guiding her in the practice of necessary activities of life. We can see that the poet is
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THE speaker in this poem reminisces about a time when people were sincere and caring in their dealings with one another; he speaks regretfully about the present time‚ when people are not like before. He seems to feel that people have lost the innocence and openness which he now sees in his young son; he wants to regain that innocence. The poem starts with the well-known words "Once upon a time"‚ suggesting that what the speaker is going to say is a fairy tale‚ something so far-fetched it might not
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Once Upon a Quinceanera The quinceañera‚ the fifteenth birthday celebration for a Latina girl‚ is quickly becoming an American event. This legendary party is a sight to behold: lavish ball gowns‚ extravagant catered meals‚ DJs‚ limousines‚ and multi-tiered cakes. The must haves for a "quince" are becoming as numerous and costly as a prom or wedding. And yet‚ this elaborate ritual also hearkens back to traditions from native countries and communities‚ offering young Latinas a chance to connect
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Do you have anyone who you share common ground with? Although it might not be the feeling of hatred‚ but in this case it is. The two texts “Once Upon A Time”‚ by Nadine Gordimer‚ and “Oklahoma Bombing Memorial Address”‚ speech by Bill Clinton both share a common ground of hatred‚ but each text illustrates it differently. In “Once Upon A Time”‚ by Nadine Gordimer the “perfect” family tried to prevent a tragedy from happening and in the meantime they let the evil and hatred consume them. While in “Oklahoma
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