Once Upon A Time By Gabriel Okara Flashcards
What is the significance of “Once upon a time, son, they used to laugh with their hearts and laugh with their eyes”?
The phrase “Once upon a time” introduces the poem with a nostalgic tone, setting up a contrast between the past and present.
The father recalls a time when emotions were genuine—laughter was heartfelt and reflected in the eyes, symbolizing authenticity.
The repetition of “laugh” emphasizes the sincerity of human interactions in the past, creating a sense of loss.
The father’s address to his son reveals his longing for a world where people were honest and unguarded.
Explain the metaphor in “But now they only laugh with their teeth, while their ice-block-cold eyes search behind my shadow.”
“Laugh with their teeth” implies insincerity—people perform laughter without true emotion.
The metaphor “ice-block-cold eyes” conveys emotional detachment and a lack of warmth, emphasizing the superficiality of modern interactions.
“Search behind my shadow” suggests hidden motives, as though people are looking for flaws or secrets, symbolizing distrust and a lack of genuine connection.
This imagery reflects the persona’s frustration with the falseness of contemporary societ
How does “There was a time indeed- they used to shake hands with their hearts: but that’s gone, son” contribute to the poem’s theme?
The act of shaking hands “with their hearts” symbolizes trust and sincerity in interpersonal relationships.
The wistful tone of “that’s gone, son” reinforces the persona’s regret over the loss of genuine human connection.
This line reflects the poem’s overarching theme: a yearning for the authenticity and innocence of the past.
Interpret “Now they shake hands without hearts while their left hands search my empty pockets.”
“Shake hands without hearts” underscores the artificiality and lack of warmth in modern social interactions.
The phrase “their left hands search my empty pockets” criticizes materialism and self-interest, suggesting that relationships are now driven by ulterior motives rather than genuine care.
This imagery draws attention to societal changes, particularly the prioritization of wealth and status over emotional connection.
: What does “‘Feel at home!’ ‘Come again’: they say, and when I come again and feel at home, once, twice, there will be no thrice” reveal?
Highlights the superficial hospitality of modern society.
People extend invitations out of politeness, not genuine desire, and withdraw them when they deem someone unworthy (financially or socially).
“No thrice” underscores the rejection the persona faces after being welcomed twice, illustrating the fleeting and conditional nature of modern relationships.
The stanza critiques the loss of sincere and unconditional kindness.
Analyze the metaphor in “I have learned to wear many faces like dresses – homeface, officeface, streetface.”
The metaphor likens the various personas people adopt to “dresses,” suggesting that individuals change their behavior to fit different social settings.
“Homeface,” “officeface,” etc., represent the masks people wear to conform and navigate societal expectations.
This reinforces the theme of insincerity, where people suppress their true selves to maintain appearances.
The mention of “conforming smiles” further critiques the rigidity and artifice of societal norms.
What is the impact of “my laugh in the mirror shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs”?
This simile compares the persona’s laugh to a snake’s fangs, symbolizing deceit and danger.
Suggests that the persona’s laughter has become hollow and predatory, a reflection of the societal hypocrisy he has internalized.
The imagery emphasizes his self-loathing and the loss of authenticity in his identity.
The snake imagery also alludes to betrayal and cunning, drawing parallels to the persona’s disingenuous adaptation to societal norms.
What does “show me, son, how to laugh; show me how I used to laugh and smile once upon a time” reveal about the persona’s emotional state?
The father pleads with his son to teach him how to reclaim his innocence and sincerity.
Reflects his longing to “unlearn” the artifice he has adopted and return to a state of genuine expression.
The repetition of “show me” emphasizes his desperation to reconnect with his true self.
This line underscores the generational contrast: the son embodies the authenticity the father has lost.
How does “I want to unlearn all these muting things” relate to the poem’s message?
“Unlearn” suggests a desire to discard the societal behaviors and habits that suppress authenticity.
The phrase “muting things” highlights how conformity and insincerity silence one’s true emotions and individuality.
The line encapsulates the poem’s central theme: the struggle to reconcile societal expectations with the desire for genuine connection and expression.
Theme
societal changes
hypocrisy
values.
Mood
Nostalgia
Tone
Ironic
Literary Devices
Metaphor
Irony
Similie
Repetition
Alliteration
Enjabment
Irony
the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
since not only does the father act the exact way he despises, but his dream dream of turning the clock back to a time of sincerity is nothing more than a fantasy as well.
Summary
The poem explores a parent’s frustration with society’s shift from sincerity to hypocrisy. Speaking to his son, the father reflects on a time when people showed genuine emotion, unlike today’s shallow interactions focused on hidden motives. Though he now also acts insincerely, he longs for the authentic connections of the past and envies his son’s honest expression.
