"once upon a time" flashcards
what point of view was the selection written from in the beginning of the story?
first person point of view.
What is the author’s purpose for writing this story?
to show the dangers of fear and paranoia.
how does the girl distract herself from the scary noises she’s hearing?
by making up a fairy tale.
what was the fairy tale about?
In a seemingly perfect
suburb, a family allows their fear of intruders to control their lives,
resulting in a horrible incident involving barbed wire they had
installed for protection.
what was a the ending of the selection?
a horrifying ending.
why were the family is the fairy tale overprotective about their surroundings?
due to the riots happening all around the city.
what is the central theme of the selection “Once upon a time”
Racial prejudice and isolation are harmful to all people in a
society.
What is the significance of the house in the story?
The house in the story symbolizes the characters’ desire for safety and protection, but also their increasing isolation and paranoia.
What is the significance of the child’s death?
The child’s death symbolizes the ultimate tragedy of a society built on fear and separation. The family’s attempts to protect their child from perceived dangers ultimately result in their child being harmed by the very system they thought would protect them.
What does the story suggest about the power of storytelling?
The story suggests that storytelling can both shape and reflect reality.
How does “Once Upon a Time” reflect the social and political context of apartheid South Africa?
“Once Upon a Time” reflects the social and political context of apartheid South Africa by depicting a society in which racial divisions are entrenched and fear of the “Other” is pervasive.
What does the “storybook” family represent in the story?
The “storybook” family represents the idealized middle-class white family in apartheid-era South Africa.
What is the significance of the mother’s narrative and her role in the story?
The mother in the story serves as a symbol of protective instinct and maternal love, but her actions also highlight the destructive consequences of overprotectiveness born out of fear.
What does the story suggest about the relationship between the individual and society?
The story suggests that the individual cannot be completely isolated from the larger society, even if they attempt to protect themselves through physical barriers or by separating themselves from others.
What role does the idea of “security” play in the story?
Security is portrayed as a false promise in the story. The family’s obsession with safety, in the form of high walls and security measures, is driven by fear and a desire to protect their home from perceived threats.
What is the significance of the story’s closing statement about the fairy tale?
The story’s closing statement serves as a powerful critique of the ways in which people in society use fairy tales, or comforting narratives, to avoid confronting harsh realities.
What does the character of the “other” (the unknown intruder or black people outside the walls) represent in the story?
The “Other” in the story represents the racial divide between white and black South Africans under apartheid.
How does the idea of “protection” evolve in the story?
At the beginning of the story, protection is viewed as a natural and necessary response to external danger. However, as the story progresses, the idea of protection becomes corrupted.
What does the ending say about the consequences of living in a society governed by fear and exclusion?
The family’s obsessive desire for protection and their attempt to isolate themselves from the “Other” result in tragedy, proving that fear, when unchecked, can lead to self-destruction.
What does the use of “fairy tale” elements in the story suggest about the relationship between fiction and reality?
The use of “fairy tale” elements suggests that the stories we tell ourselves about the world can often be disconnected from the harsh realities of that world.
