Once Upon a Time Questions on Fear
Once Upon a Time
Ironies in "Once Upon a Time"
The ironies in "Once Upon a Time" include the family's efforts to protect themselves from perceived external threats, only to create an environment of fear and isolation that ultimately leads to...
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The significance and nature of conflict in "Once Upon a Time"
The main conflict in "Once Upon a Time" is predominantly internal, despite appearing external. The characters' fears and insecurities drive their actions, leading to tragic consequences. The family's...
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What two causes for the night sound does the writer consider in "Once Upon a Time"?
The writer in "Once Upon a Time" considers two causes for the night sound: first, she wonders if it is from her subconscious mind, possibly a sound from a dream. Second, she suspects it might be a...
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How is the home secured in "Once Upon a Time"?
In "Once Upon a Time," the family's home is secured through various measures driven by fear of intrusion and theft, reflecting apartheid-era tensions. They subscribe to a Neighborhood Watch, display...
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In "Once Upon a Time," who does the boy's parents expect to care more about him, his grandmother or the gardener? Who...
In "Once Upon a Time," the boy's parents expect the grandmother to care more for him than the gardener, as they trust her advice and gifts. However, ironically, the grandmother's actions...
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Frame Narrative and Fairy Tale Events in "Once Upon a Time"
In Nadine Gordimer's "Once Upon a Time," the frame narrative and the fairy tale are intertwined through themes of fear and societal instability. The frame story features a narrator, possibly Gordimer...
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In "Once Upon A Time," how does the neighborhood begin to change?
The neighborhood in "Once Upon A Time" begins to change as crime increases, causing fear and mistrust among residents. Initially, problems like riots are external, but burglaries become more...
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What are three possible thesis statements for Once Upon a Time?
Three possible thesis statements for "Once Upon a Time" include: 1) "Once Upon a Time" can be compared to three movies that share its name, exploring similarities and differences; 2) The characters...
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What is the connection between the introduction and the fairy tale events in Gordimer's "Once Upon a Time"?
The introduction in "Once Upon a Time" sets the stage for the fairy tale events by highlighting Gordimer's personal fears of intruders, mirroring the societal fears of well-to-do white South...
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How does the narrator's introduction in paragraphs 1-8 influence the overall story?
The narrator's introduction in the first eight paragraphs sets the stage for the story by framing it within her real-life experience of fear and insecurity. She hears a mysterious noise at night,...
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In "Once Upon a Time," how effective are the house improvements?
The house improvements in "Once Upon a Time" are ironically ineffective at reducing the family's fears, despite preventing actual break-ins. Each measure, like bars on windows and higher walls,...
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What is the significance of the family's characterization in "Once Upon a Time"?
The family's characterization highlights their loving yet fearful nature, unable to engage with the world beyond their privileged existence. Gordimer portrays them as insulated and disconnected,...
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Who is the antagonist in "Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer?
The antagonist in Nadine Gordimer's "Once Upon a Time" is not a person, but an emotion: fear. It is fear that leads to the construction of the wall and barbed wire with which the couple's son is...
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In "Once Upon a Time," what is the relationship between the characters and their community?
The characters in "The Coils of the Serpent" live in a divided community, one which is driven by fear. The family is typical of this community, and their fear is represented most blatantly by their...
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The responsibility for the boy's fate in "Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer
The responsibility for the boy's fate in "Once Upon a Time" lies with his parents. Their excessive fear of crime leads them to install a dangerous security system, which ultimately causes their son's...
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What was the housemaid's motivation in "Once Upon a Time"?
The housemaid is a complex character. She is loyal to the family but also afraid of intruders and those who are hungry and unemployed.
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What is the significance of the framed narrative in "Once Upon A Time"?
The framed narrative in "Once Upon A Time" highlights the story's central theme: the irrational fears of South Africans leading to self-destructive behaviors. The author initially refuses to write a...
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Is the ending of "Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer justified?
The ending of "Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer is justified as it highlights the destructive nature of the family's fear and paranoia. The family's insulation and irrational fear of the outside...
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What do the riots symbolize in "Once Upon a Time"?
The riots symbolize the external threats to the family's idyllic, fairy-tale existence in "Once Upon a Time." They represent the dangerous, uncontrollable aspects of the outside world that the family...
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In Once Upon A Time by Nadine Gordimer, what is the initial mood and its purpose?
Gordimer begins the story with a sense of urgency, which is soon followed by an air of rationality and considered thought. The narrator's tone does not conform to what the average (white) South...
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In "Once Upon a Time," what sociological issue does Nadine Gordimer highlight?
Nadine Gordimer's "Once Upon a Time" highlights the sociological issue of apartheid, emphasizing the fear and prejudice against "the other" in South African society. The story illustrates how...
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In Once Upon A Time, what "truth" does Gordimer develop throughout the story?
Gordimer's story develops the truth about social and political ignorance, highlighting how fear and prejudice are often self-created. Set against the backdrop of apartheid in South Africa, the...
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How did you feel about the ending of "Once Upon a Time"?
Brutal sadness at the death of hope, confusion about the parents' fear, and a deep emptiness and pain as a result of this.
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How does the conflicting language in the specified sentence from "Once Upon a Time" support the overall meaning of...
The conflicting language in the specified sentence from "Once Upon a Time" highlights the tension between the characters' perceived safety and the underlying fear that drives their actions. This...
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Why is the boy's fate unexpected in "Once Upon a Time?"
The boy's fate is unexpected and ironic because the family's extreme security measures, intended to protect against intruders, ultimately cause harm. The story's "frame" suggests a happy ending, as...